Expert: Dean Gade - 10/18/2007

Question
I have been researching the Pelagian Controversy in regards to predestination and original sin for a thesis I am writing and have hit the problem of no current sources on the topic. What I have found has only scratched the surface. I was wondering if you could tell me the current thought as to the positions of both Augustine and Pelagius in regards to original sin and predestination. Also could you cite your sources if using anything other than knowledge you already have? I would like to see them also for my own citations. Thank you.

Answer
I don't know that I can be of much help in giving you sources speaking to the Pelagian Controversy.   At the university and seminary I had a whole library of source books but that was long ago.

I even made the mistake when I retired to give away some of my book.  One set which I repent most over giving away was "The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge"-(Schaff,Hertzog, I believe) but it does have a copy online with the original pages  through Acrobat Reader.

My only source of review is "The Book of Concord" in which the teaching of the Pelagians is often refuted.  If you wish to go to the trouble of finding this book, many Lutheran pastors would have one.  I can only give you the page and line references from "Concordia Triglotta" version of the Book of Concord.

The main references would be in Article I "Of Original Sin, in  the Thorough Declaration, Formula of Concord  page 867 of the Concordia Triglotta starting at line 17...and also p.909, l75

Other references are in articles of Free Will, Justification and Of Love and Fulfilling the Law:
p.53, line 8;      p.129  l.26;    p.171,  l.52;    p335, l.67;   p.343,  l.91;  p.783,  l.9

The error of the Pelagians is still being taught and believed by some historic denominations, but there is very little discussion of where it came from or how it confuses some Christians about the effect the first sin on all of today.