Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
scholarship. He came to Rome and preached the gospel. He stood against the corruptions of
Rome and Roman gentry. He presented an argument for righteous living in his sermons. We
should be aware of the actual character of Pelagius and understand that he was presenting a
different point of view at a time when doctrines were not properly defined. In Rome
Coelestius a young advovcate found the teachings of Pelagius intriguing and took up the
stand for it and brought it before the public. The church was sure to reject it. In AD 411 when
Rome fell to the Gothic Chief Alaric they left for Alexandia. Coelstius sought for ordination in
Africa which was opposed by a Milanese deacon Paulinus and was hence rejected by the
synod under Bishop Aurelius. He thereby went over to Ephesus and got himself ordained.
Pelagius went over to Palestine and lived there until he was called by the dicesan synod
under John of Jerusalem. Because of the difficulties in language and communication the
matter was referred to the Bishop of Rome. Two Gallic bishops viz., Heros and Lazarus took
up the case and presented it before the Metropolitan of Eulogius of Casesarea. A synod of
fouteen bishops met in Eulogius ( Diospolis) in 415 . Pelagius with his power of persuation
and ingenuity extricated himself from the charges. On this triumph he published a work
entitled "In Defence of Free Will". Julian of Eclanum joined him in Italy.This spurred off
another surge of rebuttals and two synods – one in Carthage and one in Mila condemned it
as heresy and forwarded it to Rome for their part of condmenation. Pope Innocent took up
the charges and condemned Pelagius as a heretic in 417. Pelegius died soon after . But
Coelestius was able to persuade the new Bishop of Praylus to his side who declared
Coelestius as of universal faith and rebuked the Africans for hasty decision. A series of
reconsiderations were made but in 418 an Imperial decree made both Pelegius and all his
associates as heretics and banished them from Rome, followed by swift synod in Carthage
which affirmed the declaration.
The African synod made the following assertions:
1. Physical death is not a necessity of nature, and is the result of Adam's sin. Children
born in Adamic race carry this original sin and is expiated by the laver of regeneration.
The gift of eternal life is the entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Man can live sinless only by the help of grace.
3. All mankind is sinful including the apsotles and saints.
All those who supported the idea were deposed and exiled all over the churhes including in
the churches of the east.
But Pelagianism is not delegated to rubish bin yet. It is a part of Humanism and resurrected
throughout history and is still in power. It is therefore a legitimate one end of the spectrum of
thought in Christianity which borders with other religions. Even though Pelegius was
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