Anti-Pelagian Writings

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series #5

by Augustine of Hippo, Philip Schaff (editor)

"The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD marked the beginning of a new era in Christianity. For the first time, doctrines were organized into a single creed. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers did most of their writing during and after this important event in Church history. Unlike the previous era of Christian writing, the Nicene and Post-Nicene era is dominated by a few very important and prolific writers.

In Volume IX of the 14-volume collected writings of the Nicenes and Post-Nicenes (first published between 1886 and 1889), readers will discover the early writings of Saint John Chrysostom, so named for his infamous gift with language. Mostly revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Chrysostom is more widely remembered for his writings that contributed to the Christian tradition of antisemitism and were exploited by the Nazis during World War II.

In this book, he discusses his entry into the priesthood and offers sermons on a variety of topics, including demons and the proper conduct of Christians."

Genres: Theology

567 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 395

About the author

Early church father and philosopher Saint Augustine served from 396 as the bishop of Hippo in present-day Algeria and through such writings as the autobiographical Confessions in 397 and the voluminous City of God from 413 to 426 profoundly influenced Christianity, argued against Manichaeism and Donatism, and helped to establish the doctrine of original sin.

An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.

People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."

The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."

Santo Agostinho

Reviews

[Ben Mizrahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course, this volume delivers exactly what it promises: All of Augustine's anti Pelagian treatises. Unfortunately, most of the early treatises are repeatedly in the extreme, and the later ones are extremely speculative, but the volume is still useful as a resource for any serious student of Augustine and early Latin Christianity, and is valuable at any church's library.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Church has always believed and taught predestination. Augustine may have born some strange fruit on the very skinniest branches of his teaching on this subject, but the trunk is sound, while the Pelagians are still waiting for the fruit to fall from the metal pole they stuck in the ground.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a compilation of quite a few different anti-pelagian writings. They range from a criticism of the church for not taking stronger discipline against Pelagius to writings on perseverance and predestination. There are many strengths - clearly explaining predestination, original sin, perseverance, and with each of these showing where pelagianism comes up short of biblical orthodoxy. On the down, Augustine shows blindness to the Roman church's teaching of the day (and today) that baptism is efficacious to wash away original sin and guarantee an infant's entry into heaven. This is his weakest argument against pelagianism and removes God's sovereignty from the equation. Still, this is worth the time needed to read.

[Vincent Saint-Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dear Sir:

I hope Pelagius and Julian of Eclanum taught you a lesson about why you can't argue for freewill and predestination. Because God knows you taught them a lesson by getting them excommunicated.

You were wrong, by the way.

V

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a class on the Augustine/Pelagius/Cassian controversy. I can't say I agree with Augustine, but this is essential reading for understanding the history of the theology of grace in the church.