According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (p. 1481), I
learn that the term "semipelagianism" was coined in the 16th and applied to
the theologians in Gaul such as John Cassian who rejected Augustine's
"extreme form of predestination" and doctrine of "infallible perseverence."
Modern scholars recognize that the theologies of the semipelagians have
little to do with Pelagius' teaching. According to this same article, these
semipelagians DO NOT deny the necessity of grace but believe that the human
will takes the first step toward the Christian life and grace then comes to
aid.
This is certainly not Pelagius' view, if my summary of his views in my
previous note is correct. Pelagius insists that every human choice relates
to grace (as he defines it) in some way, either the original grace of free
will or the subsequent graces of the law, justification, and the graces that
aid the Christian life, i.e., the teachings and example of Christ. The
issue that seems always to divine people on Pelagius is whether they accept
is definitions of grace and of the freedom of the will.
Canon 23 of Orange seems to me to summarize the Augustian position: we
freely will evil but only will good as our wills are conformed to the will
of God, i.e., God's will must move our wills in order for the latter to do
good. That is certainly not Pelagius' notion of free will, nor mine.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Teo" <ateo@whitworth.edu>
To: "'george murphy'" <gmurphy@raex.com>; "Robert Schneider"
<rjschn39@bellsouth.net>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 1:32 PM
Subject: RE: Freedom of the will (was Re: Bear sacrifice)
> Hello George,
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: george murphy [mailto:gmurphy@raex.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 8:41 AM
> > To: Robert Schneider
> > Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> > Subject: Re: Freedom of the will (was Re: Bear sacrifice)
>
> > & the problem with Pelagians & semi-Pelagians is not
> > their affirmation
> > of "free will" contra 2) but their insistence on maintaining
> > some amount of
> > human contribution to salvation.
>
> My read on Pelagianism & semi-Pelagianism is NOT that they insist on human
> contribution, but on the denial of the necessity of grace.
>
> I quote the Council of Orange:
>
> CANON 6. If anyone says that God has mercy upon us when, apart from his
>
> grace, we believe, will, desire, strive, labor, pray, watch, study, seek,
>
> ask, or knock, but does not confess that it is by the infusion and
>
> inspiration of the Holy Spirit within us that we have the faith, the will,
>
> or the strength to do all these things as we ought; or if anyone makes the
>
> assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does
not
>
> agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble,
he
>
> contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not
receive?"
>
> (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor.
15:10).
>
>
> CANON 23. Concerning the will of God and of man. Men do their own will
>
> and not the will of God when they do what displeases him; but when they
>
> follow their own will and comply with the will of God, however willingly
>
> they do so, yet it is his will by which what they will is both prepared
and
>
> instructed.
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