The Fathers of the Church: Saint Augustine - Four Anti-Pelagian Writings

This Volume Brings Together Writings From Early And Late Stages Of Augustine's Involvement In The Pelagian Controversy. On Nature And Grace And On The Proceedings Of Pelagius Both Date From A.d. 415-16 And Constitute Two Of Augustine's Most Extensive Treatments Of The Actual Words Of Pelagius. On The Predestination Of The Saints And On The Gift Of Perseverance Were Written In A.d. 428, Near The End Of Augustine's Life. Augustine's Opponents In His Writings, He Admits, Are Not Really Pelagians At All. They Were Monks Of Provence, Led By John Cassian, Who Were Disturbed By The More Extreme Consequences Of The Theology Of Grace And Predestination That Augustine Had Worked Out In His Controversy With The Pelagians. Since The Sixteenth Century, They Have Been Labeled Semi-pelagians. Taken Together, These Writings Provide An Occasion To Examine The Continuity And Development Of Augustine's Theology Of Grace. They Also Afford Much Insight Into The Fifth-century Status Of Many Theological Questions That Are Alive Today, Such As The Extent Of The Damage Done To Human Nature By Sin, The Theology Of Original Sin, The Effects Of Baptism, And The True Meaning And Scope Of God's Salvific Will. These Treatises Include Some Of Augustine's Most Significant Statements On Grace. Intended For Scholars And Students Of Theology And Philosophy, This Edition Includes Three Treatises Translated For The First Time Since The Nineteenth Century, Two Of Which Are The First From Modern Critical Texts. William Collinge's Trenchant Introductions Offer Detailed Accounts Of The Historical And Critical Work Done Over The Hundred Years Since The Last Publication.--jacket. On Nature And Grace -- The Proceedings Of Pelagius -- The Predestination Of The Saints -- The Gift Of Perseverance. Saint Augustine ; Translated By John A. Mourant And William J. Collinge ; With Introductions And Notes By William J. Collinge. Translations From Latin. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Saint Augustine CONTENTS PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Patristic Sources: Texts and Translations Modern Sources ON NATURE AND GRACE Introduction Pelagius Augustine and the Pelagian Controversy: Early Stages Pelagius in Palestine Synopsis Texts and Translations Appendix: Retractationes 2.68 On Nature and Grace, One Book On Nature and Grace Introduction The Possibility of Living without Sin The Nature and Effects of Sin Scriptural Examples of Sinlessness? The Possibility of Not Sinning: Nature or Grace? The Opposition of Flesh and Spirit Is freedom from sin possible in this life?: Texts from Various Authors Conclusion ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF PELAGIUS Introduction Orosius The Synod of Diospolis From the Synod of Diospolis to De gestis Pelagii Pelagius after Diospolis Synopsis Texts and Translations Appendix: Retractationes 2.73 On the Proceedings of Pelagius, One Book On the Proceedings of Pelagius Preface First Objection: Can one be sinless without knowledge of the law? Second Objection: "All are ruled by their own will" Third Objection: Eternal Punishment for All Sinners? Fourth Objection: "Evil does Not Come into Our thoughts" Fifth Objection: Continuity of Old and New Testaments? Sixth Objection: Possibility of Life without Sin? Seventh Objection: Propositions Associated with Caelestius Eighth Objection: The Church "Without Spot or Wrinkle" Ninth Objection: We Do More than Is Commanded Tenth Objection: Caelestius' Teaching on Grace Eleventh Objection: The Diversity of Graces Twelfth Objection: Further Statements of Caelestius The Verdict of the Synod Augustine's Own Involvement with Pelagius The Aftermath of the Trial Concluding Review of the Affair of Pelagius Postscript: The Raid on Jerome's Monastery ON THE PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS AND ON THE GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE Introduction Background: The Controversy at Hadrumetum The Conflict in Provence De Praedestinatione Sanctorum and De Dono Perseverantiae Synopsis of On the Predestination of the Saints Synopsis of On the Gift of Perseverance Texts and Translations Appendix: Letters 225 (Prosper) and 226 (Hilary) 225— Prosper to Augustine, His Saintly Lord, Indescribably Wonderful and Incomparably Honorable Pre... 226 — Hilary to His Father, Augustine, His Most Holy Lord, Longed for with All Affection and Greatly... On the Predestination of the Saints: To Prosper and Hilary Introduction: The Opinions of Those in Provence Refutation from Scriptural Texts Changes in Augustine's Own Position "What Do You Have that You Have Not Received?" The Words of Jesus in John 6 Augustine's Response to Porphyry The Predestination of Infants The Predestination of the Man Jesus The Twofold Call The Call of the Elect The Question of the Beginning of Faith Conclusion On the Gift of Perseverance: To Prosper and Hilary Introduction The Grace of Final Perseverance The Preaching of Predestination Conclusion INDICES General Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z Index of Holy Scripture Books of the Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Deuteronomy 1 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Chronicles Job Psalms (Vulgate Numbering) Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs (Canticle of Canticles) Wisdom Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) Isaiah Jeremiah Baruch Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Habakkuk Malachi Books of the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts of the Apostles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John "This volume brings together writings from early and late stages of Augustine's involvement in the Pelagian controversy. On Nature and Grace and on the Proceedings of Pelagius both date from A.D. 415-16 and constitute two of Augustine's most extensive treatments of the actual words of Pelagius. On the Predestination of the Saints and On the Gift of Perseverance were written in A.D. 428, near the end of Augustine's life. Augustine's opponents in his writings, he admits, are not really Pelagians at all. They were monks of Provence, led by John Cassian, who were disturbed by the more extreme consequences of the theology of grace and predestination that Augustine had worked out in his controversy with the Pelagians. Since the sixteenth century, they have been labeled "semi-Pelagians."" "Taken together, these writings provide an occasion to examine the continuity and development of Augustine's theology of grace. They also afford much insight into the fifth-century status of many theological questions that are alive today, such as the extent of the damage done to human nature by sin, the theology of original sin, the effects of baptism, and the true meaning and scope of God's salvific will." "These treatises include some of Augustine's most significant statements on grace. Intended for scholars and students of theology and philosophy, this edition includes three treatises translated for the first time since the nineteenth century, two of which are the first from modern critical texts. William Collinge's trenchant introductions offer detailed accounts of the historical and critical work done over the hundred years since the last publication."--Jacquette