edited by John Hendryx
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"From Augustine to Arminius: A History of Grace and Will Through Church History" is a compelling exploration of one of the most pivotal theological debates in Christian history. This book explores the contrasting doctrines of grace and free will, as championed by two influential figures: Augustine of Hippo and Pelagius..
Structured to provide a comprehensive understanding, the book begins with a preface that sets the stage for the ensuing discourse. It then moves into a detailed examination of Augustine's Doctrine of the Bondage of the Will, highlighting Augustine's belief in original sin and the complete dependence on God for salvation. The book compares this with the Council of Orange and the Council of Trent's, offering a nuanced view of the evolution of these doctrines.
Prominent theologians like A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, and Arthur C. Custance are brought into the narrative, providing insights into the nuances of Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, and Augustinianism. The book presents an extensive section on the original debate, featuring historic documents and treatises by Augustine and Jerome, giving readers a direct encounter with the primary sources that shaped these theological ideas.
The narrative then transitions to the impact of these doctrines on the Reformation, with a focus on Martin Luther and John Calvin's works. This section not only explores their writings but also how their interpretations led to a significant transformation in the Church's approach to grace and free will.
In a compelling segment, the book discusses the confessions and creeds that emerged from the Reformation, providing a contextual understanding of how these debates influenced broader Christian thought and practice.
The book culminates in an exploration of the Calvinist/Arminian controversy, bringing the discussion into a more modern context. It presents key texts and arguments from both sides of the debate, offering a balanced view of this ongoing theological conversation.
Supplemented with appendices that include relevant quotes, controversies, and additional writings by Augustine, "From Augustine to Arminius" is a profound journey through the theological landscapes that have shaped Christian thought. It is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the deep-rooted beliefs about grace, free will, and how they have sculpted the Christian faith through the ages.
B. B. Warfield said,
"Augustine [was one of the early founders] of Roman Catholicism and the author of that doctrine of grace which it has been the constantly pursued effort of Roman Catholicism to neutralize, and which in very fact either must be neutralized by, or will neutralize, Roman Catholicism. Two children were struggling in the womb of his mind. There can be no doubt which was the child of his heart. His doctrine of the Church he had received whole from his predecessors, and he gave it merely the precision and vitality which insured its persistence. His doctrine of grace was all his own: it represented the very core of his being . . . it was inevitable, had time been allowed, that his inherited doctrine of the Church, too, with all its implications, would have gone down before it, and Augustine would have bequeathed to the Church, not "problems," but a thoroughly worked out system of evangelical religion. . . . The problem which Augustine bequeathed to the Church for solution, the Church required a thousand years to solve. But even so, it is Augustine who gave us the Reformation. For the Reformation, inwardly considered, was just the ultimate triumph of Augustine's doctrine of grace over Augustine's doctrine of the Church. (Warfield, Calvin and Augustine, 321-22)
The Bible is our authority in all matters of our faith and practice. But investigating how the church interpreted the Bible through its history gives us a great deal of understanding of who we are now. Pointing out the various strains of Christianity, that is, which ones have remains faithful to Scripture and which have deviated, may help us to see more clearly where we may have gone astray.
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Table of Contents
Preface
Augustine's Doctrine of the Bondage of the Will
Contrasting Augustine and the Council of Orange (529 AD) with The Council of Trent (1563)
A.A. Hodge - Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism & Augustinianism
B. B. Warfield - Augustine & the Pelagian Controversy
Arthur C. Custance - The Leven of Synergism
The Original Debate: Historic Documents on Grace Alone
Augustine - A Treatise On Grace and Free Will
Augustine - A Treatise On Nature and Grace, Against Pelagius
Augustine - A Treatiuse On Rebuke and Grace
Augustine - A Treatise On the Grace of Christ and Original Sin
Augustine - A Treatise On the Predestination of the Saints
Augustine - A Treatise On the Gift of Perseverance
Augustine - A Work On the Proceedings of Pelagius
Jerome - Against the Pelagians (Book 1)
Jerome - Against the Pelagians (Book 2)
Jerome - Against the Pelagians (Book 3)
Canons of the Council of Orange - 529
Reforming the Church
Luther -Key Quotes from On the Bondage of the Will - 1525
Calvin - The Necessity of Reforming the Church - 1543
Calvin - A Treatise of the Eternal Predestination of God - 1552
Calvin - The Fall and Revolt of Adam - Calvin - Inst 2.1 - 1559
Calvin - Man Has Now Been Deprived of Freedom of Choice -Inst 2.2 - 1559
Calvin - Only Damnable Things Come Forth from Man - Inst 2.3 - 1559
Calvin - How God Works in Men's Hearts - Inst 2.4 - 1559
Calvin - Refutation of the Objections in Defense of Free Will - Inst 2.5 - 1559
Calvin - Fallen Man Ought to Seek Redemption in Christ - Inst 2.6 - 1559
CONFESSIONS AND CREEDS COMING OUT OF THE REFORMATION
The Belgic Confession of Faith - 1561
The Heidelberg Catechism - 1563
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
The Wesminster Confession of Faith - 1647
Calvinist / Arminianism Controversy
Five Arminians Articles of Remonstrance - Arminain 1610
Canons of Dort - 1618
Universal Atonement by John L. Girardeau
Arminian Theory of Redemption by R.L. Dabney
Of Free Will in the Fallen State by Christopher Ness
The Arminian Idol of Free Will by John Owen
Appendices
Quotes on Effectual Grace by St. Augustine
Controversy Between Whitefield and Wesley - 1740
Free Grace: A Sermon by John Wesley (Classic Arminian)
Augustine by Arthur C. Custance, Ph.D
From Augustine to the Reformation by Arthur C. Custance, Ph.D