Pelagianism

E42541

Pelagianism is a Christian theological doctrine, associated with the monk Pelagius, that emphasizes human free will and denies original sin’s crippling effect on the ability to choose good without divine grace.

All labels observed (5)

Label Occurrences
Pelagianism canonical 21
Pelagian controversy 4
Pelagian 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian theological doctrine
doctrinal system
associatedWith Celestius
linked to: Praxeas

Julian of Eclanum
Pelagius
category 5th-century Christian controversy
Christian heresy
condemnedByCouncil Council of Carthage (418)
Council of Ephesus (431)
linked to: Council of Ephesus

Second Council of Orange (529)
consideredHeresyBy Catholic Church
linked to: Roman Catholicism

Eastern Orthodox Church
most Protestant traditions
contrastedWith Augustinianism
semi-Pelagianism
denies the crippling effect of original sin on human will
the necessity of interior transforming grace for the first good act
emphasizes human free will
human moral responsibility
geographicOrigin Western Roman Empire
hasDoctrinalFocus anthropology
hamartiology
soteriology
historicalStatus rejected by mainstream Christianity
influenced later discussions of human freedom in Western theology
influencedDebateOn grace and free will
original sin
inspiredResponsesBy Augustine’s anti-Pelagian writings
namedAfter Pelagius
opposedBy Augustine of Hippo
Jerome
relatedMovement semi-Pelagianism
religiousTradition Christianity
sourceLanguageName Latin
teaches Adam’s sin injured Adam alone
baptism is not strictly necessary to remove original sin
human beings are born morally neutral
humans can choose good without prior divine grace
timePeriod early 5th century
viewOnBaptism baptism is not required to remove inherited guilt
viewOnGrace grace is not strictly necessary for the initial act of faith
grace is primarily external help such as law and teaching
viewOnHumanNature human nature is fundamentally intact after the Fall
viewOnInfants infants are born without original guilt
viewOnLaw Mosaic law and Christ’s teaching are sufficient moral guidance
viewOnPerfection moral perfection is possible in this life
viewOnSin affirms that sin consists in freely chosen acts
denies inherited guilt from Adam

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (28)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Pelagius knownFor Pelagianism
Pelagius movement Pelagianism
Pelagius influenced Pelagian movement
linked to: Pelagianism
Pelagius conflict Pelagian controversy
linked to: Pelagianism
Council of Orange (529) condemned Pelagianism
Augustine of Hippo combated Pelagianism
Commentary on the Epistles of Paul theologicalOrientation Pelagian
linked to: Pelagianism
Commentary on the Epistles of Paul theologicalContext Pelagian controversy
linked to: Pelagianism
Letter to Demetrias mainSubject Pelagianism
Letter to Demetrias hasInfluenced Pelagian controversy
linked to: Pelagianism
Letter to Demetrias relatedEvent Pelagian controversy
linked to: Pelagianism
De praedestinationis doctrina opposesView Semi-Pelagianism
linked to: Pelagianism
Pope Zosimus opposed Pelagianism
Augustinian theology opposes Pelagianism
Caelestius theologicalMovement Pelagianism
Julian of Eclanum movement Pelagianism
Pope Celestine I condemned Pelagianism
Pelagian controversy hasPart Pelagianism
Epistola Tractoria mainTopic Pelagianism
De correptione et gratia opposes Pelagianism
Semi-Pelagianism contrastsWith Pelagianism