📖 Biblical Definition
Pelagianism is the heresy that human beings are born morally neutral, that Adam's sin affected only Adam, and that humans can live sinless lives and achieve salvation through their own moral effort. This directly contradicts Paul's teaching that "through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Scripture teaches that the human heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9), that "none is righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), and that salvation is "by grace... through faith... not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Augustine rightly saw that Pelagianism makes Christ unnecessary — if we can save ourselves, the cross is futile.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The doctrines of Pelagius, who denied original sin and the necessity of divine grace.
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PELA'GIANISM, n. The doctrines of Pelagius, a native of Britain who lived about the end of the fourth century; who denied original sin, the corruption of human nature, the doctrine of grace, and the necessity of the influence of the Holy Spirit to produce regeneration. Note: Webster accurately catalogues the essential denials of Pelagianism — each of which undermines the gospel at its foundation.
📖 Key Scripture
• Romans 5:12 — "Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned."
• Ephesians 2:1-5 — "You were dead in the trespasses and sins... But God, being rich in mercy... made us alive together with Christ."
• Romans 3:10-12 — "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God."
• Jeremiah 17:9 — "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick."
• John 6:44 — "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws Him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Pelagianism is the default religion of the human heart and pervades modern Christianity.
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Though formally condemned, Pelagianism is the most persistent heresy in church history because it flatters human pride. It reappears whenever the church teaches that people are basically good, that they can choose God by their own free will without prior grace, or that salvation depends ultimately on human decision rather than divine initiative. Much of modern evangelicalism is functionally Pelagian or semi-Pelagian: salvation is presented as God's offer and man's acceptance, with the decisive factor being human choice rather than divine grace. The altar call, the "sinner's prayer," and the emphasis on "making a decision for Christ" all lean Pelagian when they locate the power of salvation in human will rather than in sovereign grace. As Augustine insisted: we do not merely need help — we need resurrection from the dead.
Usage
• "Pelagianism is the heresy that never dies because it tells people what they want to hear: that they are basically good and can save themselves."
• "If Pelagius was right and humans can achieve righteousness on their own, then Christ died for nothing — the cross becomes the most unnecessary event in history."
• "Much of modern evangelicalism is functionally Pelagian — it locates the decisive power of salvation in human choice rather than divine grace."