libterm.com Arminian theology emphasizes free will and the belief that salvation is available to all but can be resisted by human choice. It contrasts with Calvinist doctrines by highlighting conditional election based on God's foreknowledge rather than predestination. Discover more about Arminian beliefs and how they shape Christian faith in the full article.
Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Arminianism | Semi-Pelagianism |
|---|---|---|
| View on Election | Conditional election based on God's foreknowledge. | No predestination; emphasis on human free will initiating salvation. |
| Human Depravity | Total depravity, but prevenient grace enables response to God. | Partial depravity; humans can initiate faith but need grace for completion. |
| Grace | Prevenient grace is resistible and precedes faith. | Grace assists but does not initiate faith; human will plays primary role initially. |
| Salvation | Salvation requires faith, which is enabled by grace. | Salvation begins with human effort; grace supports but does not originate faith. |
| Perseverance | Conditional perseverance contingent on continued faith. | No formal doctrine on perseverance; emphasis on cooperative perseverance. |
| Influence | Major in Wesleyan and many Protestant traditions. | Historical root in early medieval Christianity; precursor to Arminian ideas. |
Introduction to Arminianism and Semi-Pelagianism
Arminianism emphasizes free will and conditional election, teaching that God's grace enables human response to salvation without ensuring it unconditionally. Semi-Pelagianism posits that the initial act of faith can arise from human effort, with grace assisting subsequently, making salvation a cooperative process between divine grace and human will. Both theological views address the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the process of salvation.
Historical Background of Both Doctrines
Arminianism originated in the early 17th century, founded by Jacobus Arminius as a response to strict Calvinist predestination, emphasizing conditional election based on foreseen faith. Semi-Pelagianism emerged in the 5th century as a middle ground between Pelagianism and Augustinian grace, asserting that the initiation of faith rests with human free will while grace assists in salvation. Both doctrines historically address the interplay of divine grace and human free will in salvation, shaping theological debates in Protestant and early medieval Christianity.
Key Theological Differences
Arminian theology emphasizes prevenient grace enabling human free will to respond to God's offer of salvation, while Semi-Pelagianism asserts that the human will initiates faith independently before grace assists. Arminians uphold conditional election based on foreseen faith, contrasting with Semi-Pelagians' belief in the human will's spontaneous decision toward God. The debate hinges on the nature of grace and human cooperation, with Arminians affirming prevenient grace as necessary for salvation and Semi-Pelagians granting a primary role to human effort prior to divine aid.
Views on Human Free Will
Arminians emphasize prevenient grace enabling human free will to respond to God's offer of salvation, asserting that individuals can accept or resist grace. Semi-Pelagians believe human will initiates faith independently, with grace assisting afterward, highlighting a cooperative but human-initiated salvation process. Both positions reject strict predestinarian determinism but differ on the timing and role of grace in enabling free will.
Doctrine of Original Sin
Arminian theology teaches that the doctrine of original sin results in total depravity, meaning humans are entirely incapable of saving themselves without God's prevenient grace enabling free will to choose salvation. Semi-Pelagianism, however, posits that the human will retains some capacity to initiate faith independently, asserting that original sin weakened but did not destroy free will. This fundamental difference shapes their respective views on grace, human nature, and the necessity of divine intervention in conversion.
Nature and Role of Divine Grace
Arminian theology emphasizes prevenient grace, which restores human free will, enabling individuals to accept or resist God's saving offer, highlighting grace as both initiating and cooperating with human response. Semi-Pelagianism asserts that the initial step toward salvation originates from human effort or natural will, with divine grace following to assist progress, portraying grace as supportive rather than initiating. Both perspectives contrast with classical Pelagianism by affirming the necessity of divine grace, yet differ on whether grace precedes or follows the human decision in the salvation process.
Salvation: God’s Initiative vs Human Response
Arminian theology emphasizes salvation as initiating from God's prevenient grace, enabling human free will to accept or reject divine offer, highlighting cooperative synergy between divine initiative and human response. Semi-Pelagianism, however, asserts that human will independently begins the process of salvation, with divine grace assisting only after initial human effort. The distinction centers on whether salvation starts solely by God's grace prior to any human movement (Arminianism) or includes an initial human step motivating God's grace (Semi-Pelagianism).
Notable Proponents and Critics
Arminianism is notably supported by theologians such as Jacobus Arminius and John Wesley, who emphasized conditional election and resistible grace, opposing strict Calvinist predestination. Semi-Pelagianism, historically linked to figures like John Cassian and later criticized by Augustine, advocates for an initial human effort in salvation with subsequent divine grace, drawing opposition from reformers like Calvin and Luther who stressed total depravity and sovereign grace. Contemporary scholars continue to debate these views, focusing on their implications for free will, divine grace, and human responsibility in salvation.
Impact on Modern Christian Denominations
Arminian theology emphasizes free will and prevenient grace, significantly influencing denominations like Methodist, Pentecostal, and Wesleyan traditions by promoting individual responsibility in salvation. Semi-Pelagianism, which teaches that the initiation of faith begins with human effort, has less doctrinal acceptance but shaped early medieval theology and some aspects of Roman Catholic thought on cooperation with grace. The divergence between these views affects contemporary debates on predestination, grace, and human agency across Protestant and Catholic churches.
Conclusion: Ongoing Relevance and Debates
The ongoing relevance of Arminian and Semi-Pelagian debates centers on their differing views of human free will and divine grace, shaping contemporary theological discourse on salvation. Arminianism emphasizes prevenient grace enabling free will, while Semi-Pelagianism advocates an initial human step toward God, sparking discussions on the interplay between divine initiative and human response. These tensions continue to influence modern Christian doctrines, ecclesiastical teachings, and ecumenical dialogues.
Arminian Infographic
