Theological Term of the Week

 

Semi-Pelagianism

A modified form of Pelagianism that does not deny original sin; however, in this view, original sin does not keep people from taking the first step toward a right relationship with God by an excercise of the will. This view was condemned as heretical by the Council of Orange in 529 (see below).

• A. A. Hodge in Outlines of Theology: Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism & Augustinianism:

  3. What are the three great systems of theology which have always continued to prevail in the church?
  
  Since the revelation given in the Scriptures embraces a complete system of truth, every single department must sustain many obvious relations, logical and otherwise, to every other as the several parts of one whole. The imperfect development, and the defective or exaggerated conception of any one doctrine, must inevitably lead to confusion and error throughout the entire system. For example, Pelagian views as to man’s estate by nature always tend to coalesce with Socinian views as to the Person and work of Christ. And Semipelagian views as to sin and grace are also irresistibly attracted by, and in turn attract Arminian views as to the divine attributes, the nature of the Atonement, and the work of the Spirit.
  
  There are, in fact, as we might have anticipated, but two complete self-consistent systems of Christian theology possible.

• From The Canons of the Council of Orange:

  CANON 7. If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, as is expedient for us, or that we can be saved, that is, assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who makes all men gladly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray by a heretical spirit, and does not understand the voice of God who says in the Gospel, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), and the word of the Apostle, “Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5).
  

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof:

  [Semi-Pelagianism] admitted that the whole human race is involved in the fall of Adam, that human nature is tainted with hereditary sin, and that all men are by nature inclined to evil and not able, apart from the grace of God, to complete any good work; but denied the total depravity of man, the guilt of original sin, and the loss of the freedom of the will.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions.org: What are Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians?
2. Theopedia: Semi-Pelagianism
   
3. John Hendryx: Differences between Semi-Pelagianism and Arminian beliefs
4. Herman Bavinck: Quote on Semi-Pelagianism

Related terms:

• Augustinianism
• Pelagianism
• original sin

Have you come across a theological term that you don’t understand and that you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

 

Click on the graphic above to find a list of all the past Theological Terms of the Week in alphabetical order.

Update on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 1:22PM by rebecca

In the comments to this post, Scott Gilbreath dropped a link to the The Semi-Pelagian Narrower Catechism for our education for our edification for our amusement so threegirldad will have to buy a new keyboard.

Goodbye, Farewell

Back in the olden days I listened to Larry Norman and once went to a Larry Norman concert. This video seems like an appropriate way to mark his passing.

 

Whatever else you might say about him, it’s pretty clear, I think, that he loved the Lord Jesus.

Upcoming

If all goes as planned, on March 13th Charles Colson will be appearing here on the blog, answering one question I submit to him about his new book, The Faith. He’ll be doing what has now become known as the Tim Challies-style book blog tour.

My question needs to be submitted by the 3rd of March, but the book hasn’t arrived in the mail yet. So when (and if) it shows up, I’ll be busy reading for a few days to try to make the deadline for the question. I am also supposed to be reviewing the book here on the blog sometime before the day of the posted interview question and answer, so I have that deadline on my agenda, too.

I am old enough to remember Colson for Watergate, and since I moved to the north of Canada shortly after all that, that’s about all I know him for. Up until the time I started blogging, I was, like many other Canadian believers, ignorant of most of the happenings in American evangelicalism, which isn’t such a bad thing, you know.

When it comes to asking Chuck Colson a question about his latest book, that he’s been flying under my radar is probably not a bad thing. It means the question I ask  him will have to be based on the book itself and nothing else, and when I judge the book in my review, I won’t have to work very hard to be unbiased. And if the book really is about what the subtitle claims—What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters—then I won’t come into it ignorant of the subject matter. It’s all good, isn’t it? As long as the book arrives, that is.

Here is the schedule for the blog tour for The Faith. Why this blog was included in that list of famous blogs, I can’t say.

I will also be giving my testimony in church on the 9th of March. I am not the sort who can fly by the seat of her pants when it comes to speaking in public, so I’ll be preparing for that, too. By that, I mean I’ll be writing down, word for word, what I plan to say.

If I disappear for a day or two here and there over the next couple of weeks, you know why: I’m reading or writing something other than blog posts.