Pyatcast

Category: Semi-Pelagianism

  • Pelagianism Examined by William Cunningham

    A friend of mine (who will remain anonymous), recently brought to my attention the following excerpt from William Cunningham, Historical Theology, vol. 1, Sec. III.—Conversion—Sovereign and Efficacious Grace (all that follows is Cunningham, not me) The controversy between Augustine and his opponents turned, as we have said, to a large extent, upon the nature and…

  • Arminianism, Semi-Pelagianism, Wes White, and the real Francis Turretin

    Pastor Wes White has an interesting post entitled, “Calvinism and Arminianism: A Middle Way?” He points out that one supposed “middle way” between Calvinism and Arminianism is just a restatement of Arminianism (and he provides a quotation from the real Francis Turretin to make his point). Although (like Pastor White) I’m a fan of Turretin…

  • Premature Exultation – Semi-Augustinianism

    David Waltz seems excited by a quotation from R.C. Sproul regarding labeling Roman Catholic doctrine. Waltz writes: “The fact that the Catholic Church maintains that it is impossible to accept the gospel without grace (gratia praeveniens), this separates Her teaching from “all forms of semi-Pelagianism”; instead, embracing “moderate-Augustinianism, or of what might be called Semi-Augustinianism,…

  • Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, and Semi-semi-Pelagianism

    B. B. Warfield described the infiltration of Pelagian error in partial form this way: But, as we have been told that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, so the Church soon found that religion itself can be retained only at the cost of perpetual struggle. Pelagianism died hard; or rather it did not die…

  • Semi-Pelagianism According to Schaff

    Occasionally people will complain that the term “semi-pelagianism” gets thrown around too freely. As an antidote, here are some comments from noted historian Philip Schaff: Semi-Pelagianism is a somewhat vague and indefinite attempt at reconciliation, hovering midway between the sharply marked systems of Pelagius and Augustine, taking off the edge of each, and inclining now…