Pelagius 'Position On Human Depravity'
Position on Human Depravity
In humanity's constant search for understanding, one of the core issues concerns our very nature. Knowledge of our true nature would provide an insight into many of the questions that go unanswered in our world. Whether deep down inside we are good or evil decides what situation we are in, and has implications about what we can do about it. Two famous figures in Christian history have taken opposing views on this subject. Augustine believed that humans have been corrupted at the core ever since the fall of man back in Genesis, while Pelagius believed that humans have complete freedom to choose good or evil, and human depravity is only a direct result of choosing evil.
Augustine had the conviction that man is naturally …show more content…
Man takes the first step towards God, and then God completes salvation in reaction only after we have taken the initiative to turn to him first. According to him Christians are completely free to choose not to sin, and are not necessarily inevitably going to mess up. His view is that our nature is not affected or caused by the sin of one man thousands of years ago. Pelagius' would say that Adam set the bad example, but it did not have condemning consequences for the rest of humanity. Similarly, Jesus was the one man who set the good example, and because of him, we have the freedom to choose what is right. This puts a lot more responsibility on man, since it would imply that we are accountable for our own salvation, as well as all of our sins. This view also almost completely excludes grace from the …show more content…
Pelagius has the view that life is not deterministic; it is up to us to choose between good or evil. Part of 1 John 2:1 says "I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin...". The "if" could be interpreted to imply that sin is not inevitable, and we do have a choice to live perfectly, like Jesus. I agree with Augustine though, in the idea that original sin has consequences for all of us, and is similar to a sort of genetic flaw that has been passed down through all of humanity since Adam. Other verses like Jeremiah 13:23 and Romans 3:10-11 seem to support a sort of hopelessness against resisting sin. It is only by the restoration and freedom brought by Christ and the Holy Spirit that we are able to choose what is right and live pleasing God. I also agree with Augustine's view that God takes the first step in restoring us by offering his grace freely. Without his grace we would not be able to choose to follow him. It is not that God will change us because we decide to give up our old life and follow him, but that because of his love since the beginning we change and turn from our old
In humanity's constant search for understanding, one of the core issues concerns our very nature. Knowledge of our true nature would provide an insight into many of the questions that go unanswered in our world. Whether deep down inside we are good or evil decides what situation we are in, and has implications about what we can do about it. Two famous figures in Christian history have taken opposing views on this subject. Augustine believed that humans have been corrupted at the core ever since the fall of man back in Genesis, while Pelagius believed that humans have complete freedom to choose good or evil, and human depravity is only a direct result of choosing evil.
Augustine had the conviction that man is naturally …show more content…
Man takes the first step towards God, and then God completes salvation in reaction only after we have taken the initiative to turn to him first. According to him Christians are completely free to choose not to sin, and are not necessarily inevitably going to mess up. His view is that our nature is not affected or caused by the sin of one man thousands of years ago. Pelagius' would say that Adam set the bad example, but it did not have condemning consequences for the rest of humanity. Similarly, Jesus was the one man who set the good example, and because of him, we have the freedom to choose what is right. This puts a lot more responsibility on man, since it would imply that we are accountable for our own salvation, as well as all of our sins. This view also almost completely excludes grace from the …show more content…
Pelagius has the view that life is not deterministic; it is up to us to choose between good or evil. Part of 1 John 2:1 says "I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin...". The "if" could be interpreted to imply that sin is not inevitable, and we do have a choice to live perfectly, like Jesus. I agree with Augustine though, in the idea that original sin has consequences for all of us, and is similar to a sort of genetic flaw that has been passed down through all of humanity since Adam. Other verses like Jeremiah 13:23 and Romans 3:10-11 seem to support a sort of hopelessness against resisting sin. It is only by the restoration and freedom brought by Christ and the Holy Spirit that we are able to choose what is right and live pleasing God. I also agree with Augustine's view that God takes the first step in restoring us by offering his grace freely. Without his grace we would not be able to choose to follow him. It is not that God will change us because we decide to give up our old life and follow him, but that because of his love since the beginning we change and turn from our old