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Free Will

Are we truly free to choose the good after the fall? Centuries of debate hinge here

Free will is the human capacity for self-determined moral choice, affirmed by early writers like Justin and Origen and explored deeply by Augustine. The traditions differ over its scope after the fall and how it relates to grace: this is the heart of the Augustinian–Pelagian dispute and later of Reformation and synergist debates. Some stress grace's priority in enabling every good choice, while others emphasize the will's cooperation with grace.

How it traveled

  1. 1 Peter
    Rome · 64
    explains
  2. 2 Peter
    Rome · 64
    applies
  3. Romans
    Corinth · 67
    explains
  4. 1 Corinthians
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  5. Hebrews
    Rome · 67
    applies
  6. Galatians
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  7. Matthew
    Antioch · 80
    explains
  8. Luke
    Rome · 84
    explains
  9. John
    Ephesus · 100
    explains
  10. The First Apology
    Rome · 165
    explains
  11. Against Heresies: Book IV
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  12. The Canonical Epistle, with the Commentaries of Theodore Balsamon and John Zonaras.
    — · 220
    explains
  13. A Treatise on the Soul.
    — · 220
    explains
  14. The Instructions of Commodianus.
    — · 220
    explains
  15. Apology.
    — · 220
    explains
  16. On Exhortation to Chastity.
    — · 220
    explains
  17. The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes.
    — · 220
    explains
  18. A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus
    — · 325
    explains
  19. The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  20. Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns
    Edessa · 373
    explains
  21. The Letters
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    explains
  22. The Hexæmeron
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    explains
  23. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril
    Jerusalem · 386
    explains
  24. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen
    Nazianzus · 390
    explains
  25. On the Making of Man
    Nyssa · 395
    explains
  26. The Great Catechism
    Nyssa · 395
    explains
  27. On the Soul and the Resurrection
    Nyssa · 395
    explains
  28. On the Duties of the Clergy
    Milan · 397
    explains
  29. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  30. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains

Key passages(20)

Exordium — Section XXIX.↗challenges

Exordium · Martin Luther

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The Sovereignty of God — Section XXVI.↗challenges

The Sovereignty of God · Martin Luther

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Against Heresies: Book IV, Chapter XXXVII↗explains

Against Heresies: Book IV · Irenaeus of Lyons

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Bardesan. The Book of the Laws of Divers Countries.↗explains

Bardesan. The Book of the Laws of Divers Countries. · Memoirs of Edessa and Other Ancient Syriac Documents

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Discussion: First Part — Section LXXV.↗challenges

Discussion: First Part · Martin Luther

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Discussion: Third Part — Section CLXIII.↗challenges

Discussion: Third Part · Martin Luther

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Discussion: Third Part — Section CXLVIII.↗challenges

Discussion: Third Part · Martin Luther

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Exordium — Section XL.↗challenges

Exordium · Martin Luther

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The First Apology, Chapter XLIII↗explains

The First Apology · Justin Martyr

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Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) — Question. 83 - OF FREE-WILL (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 2↗explains

Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) — Question. 83 - OF FREE-WILL (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 3↗explains

Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102) · Thomas Aquinas

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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith — An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. — Book III — part 5↗explains

John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus

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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians — Book I — He Concludes that He Does Not Deprive the Wicked of Free Will.↗explains

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians — Book II — He Replies to the Calumnies of the Pelagians.↗explains

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — Free Will Has Its Function in the Heart’s Conversion; But Grace Too Has Its.↗explains

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — God’s Grace to Be Maintained Against the Pelagians; The Pelagian Heresy Not an Old One.↗explains

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — Grace Effects the Fulfilment of the Law, the Deliverance of Nature, and the Suppression of Sin’s Dominion.↗challenges

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — Grace is Necessary Along with Free Will to Lead a Good Life.↗explains

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — He Proves the Existence of Free Will in Man from the Precepts Addressed to Him by God.↗explains

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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A Treatise on Grace and Free Will — Abstract. — Sinners are Convicted When Attempting to Excuse Themselves by Blaming God, Because They Have Free Will.↗explains

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will · Augustine of Hippo

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