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Concerning Grace and Free Will
— A Classic — Includes Active Table of Contents — Includes Religious Illustrations
The treatise of St. Bernard De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio was written at some time shortly previous to the year 1128, and therefore before the author had attained his thirty-eighth year. St. Bernard, in a letter addressed to Hincmar, Chancellor of the Holy See, which the Benedictine editor dates as circ. an. mcxxviii, refers to the fact that Geoffrey, Bishop of Chartres, had asked him to send Hincmar some of his “opuscula”; he had at the time, so he thought, nothing at hand worthy of Hincmar’s attention, but he adds: “Libellum tamen De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio nuper edidi; illum uobis libenter mittam, cum uos uelle cognouero” (St. Bern. Epist. LII).
Aeterna Press
The treatise of St. Bernard De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio was written at some time shortly previous to the year 1128, and therefore before the author had attained his thirty-eighth year. St. Bernard, in a letter addressed to Hincmar, Chancellor of the Holy See, which the Benedictine editor dates as circ. an. mcxxviii, refers to the fact that Geoffrey, Bishop of Chartres, had asked him to send Hincmar some of his “opuscula”; he had at the time, so he thought, nothing at hand worthy of Hincmar’s attention, but he adds: “Libellum tamen De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio nuper edidi; illum uobis libenter mittam, cum uos uelle cognouero” (St. Bern. Epist. LII).
Aeterna Press
58 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1988
9 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Bernard of Clairvaux
542 books116 followersborn 1090
Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.
This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.
In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard...
Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.
This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.
In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard...
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2023
Luther called St. Bernard the most pious of monks and Calvin cited him 46 times in the Institutes.
I remember reading an excerpt from St. Bernard in Nick Needham’s 2000 Years of Christ’s Power where human responsibility and God’s sovereign grace made more sense to me. Reading the entire treatise only gave me more language to further understand these matters.
It would help Christians to read earlier writings like this before reading more contemporary writings on tough subjects like grace and free choice.
I remember reading an excerpt from St. Bernard in Nick Needham’s 2000 Years of Christ’s Power where human responsibility and God’s sovereign grace made more sense to me. Reading the entire treatise only gave me more language to further understand these matters.
It would help Christians to read earlier writings like this before reading more contemporary writings on tough subjects like grace and free choice.
February 5, 2025
learning lots lately!
February 9, 2026
Read for class. Having a lot of discussion about free will and predestination. Has been fun doing a deeper dive into this than I ever have before. Definitely need humility as I seek “answers” to these issues that people have been debating for centuries. This book closed with this awesome quote
“It is those whom He made righteous, not those whom He found already righteous, that He has magnified”
“It is those whom He made righteous, not those whom He found already righteous, that He has magnified”
December 30, 2022
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February 6, 2023
Though I am still processing Bernard’s final conclusions, I found his work to be enormously helpful in creating mental categories for thinking theologically about the will. This has always been a struggle for me, and I am grateful to have had some of those categories carved out over the last few days. This, alongside his occasional Pauline-esque doxological declarations, make this a work to which I will often return.
April 4, 2024
A very succinct book that describes the essentials about free will and the workings of grace. Counters the Pelagian and Calvinist alike, all in 100 pages. Highly recommend as basic reading into the topic.
July 8, 2022
Writing in the early 12th Century, Bernard was a favorite of John Calvin. I enjoy pursuing the teachers of my teachers.
In the current era freedom (or not) of the will is no longer rightly understood in a foundational sense. It is good to go back, start afresh with how others who have gone before us have understood it, and work our way back up.
In the current era freedom (or not) of the will is no longer rightly understood in a foundational sense. It is good to go back, start afresh with how others who have gone before us have understood it, and work our way back up.
February 21, 2025
While Bernard's treatise is excellent and commendable in itself, McGinn's introduction and commentary comprises half the printed edition and would warrant 3/5 stars for its part, being the victim of several significant typos that diminish the quality of the edition but also being short of offering particular clarity to Bernard let alone itself. In short McGinn does indeed offer remarks on On Grace & Free Choice but it's uncertain to me how helpful these are in furthering one's understanding of the primary text.
July 30, 2017
This work was Bernard of Clairvaux's attempt to tackle the issue of free choice and how that interacts with the existence of God, particularly one who is all powerful and all knowing. He insists that humans have free choice, but that our free choice is not complete. We have freedom from necessity, that means we can choice and have a will, but we do not have freedom from sin or sorrow. This basically means that while we do choose things in our life, our lack of freedom from sin or sorrow only enables us to choice evil.
Now in many ways I found this work of Bernard's more enjoyable than some of his sermons that I've read. He's far less allegorical and all over the place like he is with his sermons. I found this to be more enjoyable. However, the subject matter is one that so many have tried, but I think that none of us are ever able to figure out. While I think there is much to praise about Bernard's approach, I still wonder if this solves anything completely.
One other negative I found about my particular edition, was that the introduction to the work was almost as long as the work itself. While I suppose you could just skip it, it still took up almost half the book and I found that a bit overly long.
Now in many ways I found this work of Bernard's more enjoyable than some of his sermons that I've read. He's far less allegorical and all over the place like he is with his sermons. I found this to be more enjoyable. However, the subject matter is one that so many have tried, but I think that none of us are ever able to figure out. While I think there is much to praise about Bernard's approach, I still wonder if this solves anything completely.
One other negative I found about my particular edition, was that the introduction to the work was almost as long as the work itself. While I suppose you could just skip it, it still took up almost half the book and I found that a bit overly long.
February 9, 2026
"By an act of will alone man fell into the pit of sin; but no act of will is sufficient to enable him to rise again, seeing that now, even if he so will, he is not able not to sin."
Its a shame the authors of Trent's 7th canon on justification hadn't read their own Doctor of Theology. Doing so could have prevented much animosity, blood and war. I recommend giving this book to your favorite Jesuit loving papist who rages against Calvin's doctrine of total depravity.
Its a shame the authors of Trent's 7th canon on justification hadn't read their own Doctor of Theology. Doing so could have prevented much animosity, blood and war. I recommend giving this book to your favorite Jesuit loving papist who rages against Calvin's doctrine of total depravity.
August 4, 2017
Excellent theology concerning free choice, free counsel, and free pleasure, and what was lost because of sin. We have free choice, but do not have freedom from sin nor freedom from sorrow.
John Calvin was influenced by Bernard of Clairvaux, and upon reading this book, I can see why. Reformed Christians will appreciate his wisdom.
John Calvin was influenced by Bernard of Clairvaux, and upon reading this book, I can see why. Reformed Christians will appreciate his wisdom.
November 23, 2020
Freshman Seminar Reading.
May 6, 2021
A more penetrating and subtle inquiry of free choice than often found today. A lot to chew on.
November 24, 2014
Bernard's main attempt with the book is to defend free choice as that which makes one liable or responsible for anything, contra. typical Augustinian predestinationism. Bernard does have some helpful insights. If I were to meet an Arminian, I would want him to have thought through his case as thoroughly and in the same vein as Bernard. The main thing I am doubtful about is his insistence on freedom of choice. He claims there are three types of freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of counsel (from sin), and freedom of pleasure (from sorrow). He claims that latter two are struck down by sin and cannot be fully restored in this life. However, he insists that freedom of choice remains. He does qualify this saying that it does no one any good unless God changes their choice. I'm interested to see in my time at seminary what Luther and Calvin (and their successors) do with this concept.
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December 9, 2012Bernard's analysis of free choice may not be widely accepted today. It may not even be absolutely incontrovertibly right. However it does for the most part ring true with the content of scripture in a profoundly simple way. His invention of the three types of freedom is genius.
August 30, 2025
We do not will the good apart from God, as every good thing finds its origin in Him, including our very will. God will glorify that which he created and that which he redeemed, our invitation is that of participation in his work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews