Augustine argued that grace not only facilitates our efforts to obey God, but because of our fallen nature, grace is necessary. Before the fall, the requirement for moral perfection was already present. The fall did not change the requirement, but it did change us. What was once a moral possibility became, without grace, a moral impossibility. Augustine’s view is rooted in his doctrine of original sin. As the debate escalated, Pelagius aimed his guns at this doctrine.
Sproul, R.C.; Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology; Baker Books; Grand Rapids, MI; copyright 1997; p. 122
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Doofuses who’ve neither read Augustine nor Pelagius don’t even know the debate was on DEFINITIONS of words.
Augustine: Grace = enabling power. Righteous = 100% sinless.
Pelagius: Grace = mercy. Righteousness = habitually doing the right thing most of the time.
Pelagius’ definitions of these terms come (obviously) from a thorough reading of the Old Testament. Augustine’s definitions come from a mixture of overemphasis on the Pauline epistles and Gnosticism (he had been a Manichean for 9 years, remember). Pelagius’ definition are entirely biblical, in the sense of being derived from a clear reading of the Old Testament). Augustine’s definitions are confused, in the sense that if you try to interpret the words ‘grace’ or ‘righteous’ according to Augustine’s definitions while reading the Old Testament, you will not be able to understand what its talking about it.
great post