libterm.com Semi-Pelagianism emphasizes human free will in initiating faith while acknowledging divine grace as essential for salvation. It rejects the idea that grace is irresistible and insists that individuals can choose to begin the process of faith independently. Discover more about how Semi-Pelagianism contrasts with other theological views and its implications for your beliefs in the following article.
Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Semi-Pelagianism | Infralapsarianism |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Belief that the first step towards salvation is human free will, cooperating with divine grace. | Theological view that God's decree to elect individuals occurs after the Fall of Man. |
| Origin | Developed in 5th-century Christian debates against Pelagianism. | Formulated within Reformed theology during the 16th-17th centuries. |
| View on Free Will | Human will initiates faith; grace assists afterward. | Human will is entirely dependent on God's electing grace post-Fall. |
| Doctrine of Election | Not fully predestined; emphasis on cooperation between divine grace and human effort. | God's election is unconditional, decided after the Fall but before salvation. |
| Role of Grace | Grace enables and follows the initial human act of faith. | Grace is sovereign, preceding and enabling faith unconditionally. |
| Relation to Original Sin | Agrees sin taints humanity but maintains free will can begin salvation. | Emphasizes humanity's total depravity post-Fall necessitating divine election. |
| Denominational Associations | Linked to Catholic and some Methodist traditions. | Central in Calvinist Reformed theology. |
Introduction to Semi-Pelagianism and Infralapsarianism
Semi-Pelagianism is a theological doctrine emphasizing human free will's initial role in cooperating with divine grace for salvation, rejecting the notion that grace alone initiates faith. Infralapsarianism, a Calvinist perspective on divine election, holds that God's decree of election occurs after the Fall (lapsus), meaning God ordains salvation and condemnation considering humanity's fallen state. Both doctrines address the order of divine actions regarding salvation, with Semi-Pelagianism stressing human initiation and Infralapsarianism focusing on God's sovereign election post-Fall.
Historical Origins and Development
Semi-Pelagianism emerged in the early 5th century as a response to Pelagianism, emphasizing human free will's role in initiating faith before divine grace intervenes, notably advocated by figures like John Cassian. Infralapsarianism developed later during the Reformation, particularly articulated by Calvinist theologians, framing God's decree of election after the Fall, positioning human sin as the backdrop for predestination. Both doctrines engage complex theological discussions on grace, free will, and predestination but originate from distinct historical contexts reflecting evolving Christian doctrinal disputes.
Core Doctrinal Differences
Semi-Pelagianism asserts that human will initiates faith, emphasizing a cooperative role in salvation, whereas Infralapsarianism maintains God's sovereign decree of election occurs after the fall, underscoring predestination prior to human response. Semi-Pelagian doctrine posits prevenient grace enabling initial belief, contrasting with Infralapsarianism's view that divine election logically follows humanity's sinful state. Core theological divergence lies in the origin and order of salvation acts: human effort versus divine sovereignty and temporal sequencing of election relative to the fall.
Views on Human Free Will
Semi-Pelagianism posits that human free will initiates the process of salvation, asserting that individuals can make the first move toward God without prior divine grace. Infralapsarianism, within the framework of Reformed theology, emphasizes God's sovereign election and predestination, often interpreting human free will as secondary to divine decree. The tension between these views centers on whether human free will is autonomous in salvation or entirely dependent on God's predetermined plan.
Divine Grace: Initiation and Response
Semi-Pelagianism teaches that the human will can initiate faith with divine grace assisting thereafter, emphasizing a cooperative role in salvation. Infralapsarianism asserts that God's grace is the primary and initiating cause of salvation, with human response enabled but entirely dependent on this sovereign grace. The fundamental difference lies in whether divine grace initiates salvation unilaterally (Infralapsarianism) or responds to a human-initiated faith (Semi-Pelagianism).
The Order of God's Decrees Explained
Semi-Pelagianism asserts that human will initiates faith, requiring divine grace to complete salvation, whereas Infralapsarianism emphasizes God's sovereign decree to permit the fall before electing some for salvation. The order of God's decrees in Infralapsarianism follows: creation, permission of the fall, election, and reprobation, highlighting divine sovereignty in salvation history. In contrast, Semi-Pelagianism diminishes predestination by stressing human cooperation prior to grace, altering traditional Reformed doctrinal sequence.
Scriptural Foundations and Interpretations
Semi-Pelagianism emphasizes human free will in initiating salvation, often citing scriptures like Romans 10:13 and Matthew 7:7 to support the cooperative role of human effort and divine grace. Infralapsarianism, anchored in Calvinist doctrine, interprets passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 9:15-16 to affirm God's sovereign election predating human fall, framing divine decree in a logical order after the permission of the fall but before the decree of election. This theological contrast reflects divergent hermeneutical approaches to divine sovereignty, grace, and human responsibility within the biblical narrative.
Key Theologians and Proponents
Semi-Pelagianism, promoted by theologians like John Cassian and later modified by humanists such as Erasmus, emphasizes the cooperative role of human free will in initiating salvation, asserting that grace assists but does not precede this initiation. Infralapsarianism, advocated by Reformed theologians including Theodore Beza and later Jonathan Edwards, posits a divine election order where God's decree to permit the fall precedes election, highlighting predestination and sovereign grace in salvation. These theological frameworks significantly shaped debates in Augustinian and Calvinist traditions over the interplay of grace, free will, and predestination.
Impact on Christian Theology and Practice
Semi-Pelagianism asserts that human free will initiates salvation, influencing Christian practice by emphasizing cooperation with divine grace and promoting moral responsibility in believers. Infralapsarianism, a framework within Calvinist predestination theology, impacts Christian doctrine by affirming God's sovereign election prior to the Fall, shaping views on grace and divine justice. The contrasting positions affect ecclesiastical teachings on salvation, human nature, and the interplay between divine sovereignty and human agency.
Contemporary Relevance and Debates
Semi-Pelagianism and Infralapsarianism remain critical in contemporary theological debates concerning human free will and divine sovereignty, especially within Reformed and Arminian circles. Semi-Pelagianism emphasizes human initiation in salvation, influencing current discussions on grace and predestination, while Infralapsarianism proposes a divine order of election following the Fall, shaping views on God's decrees and human responsibility. Contemporary relevance is evident in ongoing ecclesiastical dialogues and academic discourse addressing moral accountability, divine justice, and soteriological frameworks.
Semi-Pelagianism Infographic
