It is difficult to write about someone who has been labeled a heretic because so little remains about them. Once labeled a heretic by the church fathers in Rome, works are burned, character is villified and destroyed. The person all but disappears.
Here’s what I know about Pelagius. His life spans from circa 354 A.D. to circa 440 A.D, give or take twenty years. He traveled around the Mediterranean, from Synod to Synod, teaching a doctrine of Free Will. Men are free to choose good or evil. And even wicked people can choose to do good things on their own.
Pelagius was apparently a gifted orator and writer and quite influential. He caught the attention of the church in Rome and of Augustine of Hippo – yes, that St. Augustine who wrote about “original sin” and “we are only saved by grace – works have nothing to do with it.”
It was quite a debate in the 5th century. At first, St. Augustine called Pelagius a ‘saintly man,’ but later used Pelagius to launch his own career – writing in opposition to his teachings . St. Augustine won the debate and for centuries, the church in Rome followed Augustinian philosophy as their dogma. The doctrine of free will fell into obscurity.
But some things are coming to light. I read this in Wikipedia:
"However, more recently some have defended Pelagius as a misunderstood orthodox:[1]
"Recent analysis of his thinking suggests that it was, in fact, highly orthodox, following in the tradition established by the early fathers and in keeping with the teaching of the church in both the East and the West. ... From what we are able to piece together from the few sources available... it seems that the Celtic monk held to an orthodox view of the prevenience of God's grace, and did not assert that individuals could achieve salvation purely by their own efforts..."
Yup. Celtic. Pelagius was from the British Isles. Here’s this guy, traveling around the Roman world, teaching about Christ and free will together, and utterly denying the concept of original sin.
This is basic Mormonism. It’s right there in our Articles of Faith, #2. “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adams transgression.”
And from Doctrine & Covenants 58:27. “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”
The doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are nothing new. They were taught hundreds of years ago. I hold up the likes of Pelagius to confirm that idea. That he hails from the British Isles, the home of my ancestors, is something I find utterly fascinating.
Next time: St. Patrick and The Four Sons of Mosiah
Notes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagius
1. ^ Bradley, Ian (1993) The Celtic Way. London: Darton, Longman and Todd; p. 62
Monday, January 16, 2012
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