Abstract
The intensity of the Semi-Pelagian controversy in the Gaulish Church of the fifth and sixth centuries The controversy over Augustine’s predestinarian views was transferred to Gaul after the Vandal conquest of Africa. The Pelagian controversy was characterised by the participation of several prominent figures and the convention of seven councils. The question, however, is why the Semi-Pelagian controversy was of such a different character. The answer is to be found in the context of the participants in the debate: the unique charac- ter of the Gaulish Church, the influence from the monasteries and the distinctive political setting of this region. John Cassian, founder of the monasteries of Marseilles, took the view that God’s grace comes as an answer to the beginning of a good will in the human person and the free will in man can either neg- lect or delight in the grace of God. The same sentiments were soon heard from the monastery on the island of Lerins. The reaction to this stance by Prosper of Aquitaine led to the literary involvement of Augustine. For several decades the bishops of Arles and Vienne attempted to raise their city’s ecclesiastical status above the other cities of Southern Gaul – a phenomenon typical of the public life of this region. In 529 Caesarius, former monk of Lerins, of aristocratic descent and bishop of Arles, held a synod at Orange. This synod affirmed a diluted form of the Augustinian position. All the elements of the character of this controversy can be found in the person of Caesarius who was also mainly responsible for the formulation of the canons of this synod.
Highlights
Die stryd rondom Augustinus se sienings oor die uitverkiesing het na die Vandaalse inval in Noord-Afrika na Gallië oorgewaai
Die antwoord is te vind in die aard van die deelnemers aan hierdie stryd: die unieke karakter van die Galliese Kerk, die invloede van die kloosters en die besondere politieke klimaat van die gebied
Kort daarna het dieselfde sienings hulle verskyning vanuit die klooster op die eiland Lerins gemaak
Summary
Die kwessie oor sonde en die genoegsaamheid van God se genade by die verlossing van die uitverkorenes is ’n kernpunt in die gereformeerde leer. Die stryd teen hierdie dwaalleer het sy hoogtepunt bereik toe Augustinus se leer in verswakte vorm deur die Tweede Sinode van Orange in 529 bevestig is. Augustinus was egter net vir ’n kort tydperk (van ongeveer 429 tot met sy dood in Augustus 430) by die SemiPelagiaanse kwessie betrokke, en slegs op versoek by wyse van korrespondensie. Die oorsaak daarvan kan ongelukkig nie net by die betrokkenheid van ’n bepaalde prominente persoon/persone/konsilies gesoek word nie, maar veral by die eie karakter van die Galliese Kerk in die vyfde en sesde eeu. Die vraag is waarom hierdie stryd juis in soveel felheid in die suide van Gallië gewoed het, veral in die lig daarvan dat Augustinus hulle nie so streng behandel het as wat die geval met die Pelagiane was nie. Hierdie vraag word beantwoord deur eerstens te bepaal of die kerk in Gallië ’n eie unieke karakter vertoon het wat aan die SemiPelagiaanse stryd ’n besondere intensiteit gegee het en tweedens deur te kyk na die staatkundige toestande in Gallië en die invloed daarvan op die kerk en hierdie dogmatiese stryd
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