Pelagius is not alone in this assumption. Ultimately, Pelagius claimed we save ourselves-and he rejected the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice. This directly contradicts Romans 5, Philippians 3:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:21, Ephesians 2:1-9, John 14:6, and many other clear passages (not to mention the foreshadowing and prophecy throughout the entire Old Testament). Just as Adam’s original sin set a bad example, but did not change human nature, so Jesus’s life and death set a good example but does not directly change our salvation. Why Is Pelagianism Dangerous?Īccording to Pelagius, Jesus is our moral example but is not necessary for our salvation. However, his seemingly straightforward theology left out a few crucial details-such as Jesus’s death on the cross.
Pelagius’ reasoning sounded natural, and his moral rigor was a breath of fresh air for many Christians. Though Pelagius knew living a sinless life was incredibly difficult, he believed it was possible for a normal human to achieve. Yes, human culture was corrupted with sin, but individual humans weren’t controlled by it. You start with a clean slate, and your choices between good and evil determine your own eternal future.
Clean slate meaning free#
This concept is referred to as “original sin.” But Pelagius wondered, why would a righteous and just God hold Adam’s sin against all humanity? Was humanity really so corrupt that sin was inevitable? And if every human was doomed to sin, how could God demand perfection of us ( Matthew 5:48)? It didn’t seem fair.Īccording to Pelagius, each of us is born innocent and given the free ability to choose between good and evil. The orthodox belief about sin was that Adam’s sin tainted all of humanity. However, as Pelagius spoke and wrote against this sin, he decided the root of the problem was in theology.
Clean slate meaning license#
Many Christians were using God’s grace as a license for sin. Pelagius was a disciplined man, and he made it his duty to confront the moral laxity so prevalent in Rome. While in Rome, he earned such a good reputation that the famed Augustine of Hippo called him “a saintly man.” Pelagius was a British Christian who moved to Rome in the fifth century A.D. Who Was Pelagius and What Is Pelagianism? Both threaten to obscure the truth of the Gospel.īut before we highlight the specific problems Pelagianism creates, let’s explore its founder’s claims-and how he reached them. Other doctrines are subtler, worming their way within the church and tainting our understanding of our relationship with God. Some doctrines of Pelagianism are blatantly heretical yet have remained a staple in public perceptions of Christianity for centuries. Today, over half of Americans who identify as Christian believes in Pelagianism. Over 1600 years ago, a heretic named Pelagius caused an earthquake of controversy in the church-and the tremors still haven’t stopped.
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