St. Prosper of Aquitaine: The Call of All Nations

Ancient Christian Writers #14

by Prosper of Aquitaine, P. de Letter, Walter J. Burghardt (Editor)

This is the first treatise in ancient Christian literature on the problem of the salvation of infidels. It is a controversial work written against the Semi-Pelagians about the year 450, probably at Rome.

Genres: Theology, Christianity

248 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1952

About the author

saint

Reviews

[Jared Mindel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive, but good. Especially helpful for understanding the continuation of the Augustinian soteriological tradition.

[Philip Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragically underrated work of Christian soteriology. Patiently upholds simultaneously the election of God and the universal nature of the Atonement.

[Esteban Rubio · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Prosper of Aquitaine— a student of St. Augustine and ardent defender of his beloved doctrine of grace—illustrates a syllogism that runs like a thread through out the entirety of 'the Call of all Nations.' The syllogism goes something like this: God universally wills for all men to come to the knowledge of truth. The gratuitous gift of grace, in actuality, is only bestowed upon some men irrespective of merit. Therefore, not all men, in actuality, come to the knowledge of truth and remain enslaved to the rule of sin and death.

Historically, many theologians have asked, "Why do some men willfully remain enslaved in sin? And others illuminated towards the truth?"St. Prosper's response to these mysteries are humbly doxological. He consistently responds in awe, silence, and praise along with St. Paul, "O the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable are his ways!" (Rom. 11:33)

St. Prosper espouses God's goodness and justice, original sin, divine election and prescience as the doctrinal foundations for his theological response. He does not resolve the antinomy that exists between God's universal salvific will and the 'discrimination' of His electing grace. Nevertheless, he demonstrates from Holy Scripture both the mystery of God's hidden decrees and the manifestation of His merciful acts in history. 'The Call of All Nations' primarily functioned as a critique against semi-pelagianism in the sixth century that emerged among the monastic communities in Southern Gaul. I am also reminded afresh of the 16th and 17th century Protestant controversies over certain soteriological formulations. The Reformation was a voice in a long standing Catholic conversation. This is a great read for anybody interested in the gradual triumph of Augustinian soteriology throughout Church history.

[Jonathan Rodebaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this book is fantastic. Prosper was a 5th century lay theologian that fought the heresy of the semi-pelagians. This work was utilized posthumously at the council of orange. Prosper was an Augustinian apologist that eventually affirmed single predestination while rejecting predestined damnation and limited atonement. This is his seminal work concerning this position.

[Patrick]

St. Prosper was a defender of Augustine during the semi-pelagian controversy that occurred shortly after Augustine's death. In this book he discusses the issue of how God can want all men to be saved, but at the same time not save everyone.