Pelagius

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A proper noun referring to a historical figure known for theological teachings opposing original sin and emphasizing human free will
2. The name of a Christian ascetic and philosopher who argued against predestination by advocating moral responsibility and ethical conduct
3. An identifier for an influential early Christian thinker whose doctrines sparked controversy regarding human nature and divine grace

Etymology: Pelagius was a British-born monk who taught in Rome in the late fourth and early fifth centuries, and his name has a sea-going origin that few readers would guess. It comes from Greek "Pelágios," meaning "of the sea," itself built from "pélagos," the word for the open sea. The Latin form "Pelagius" carried that meaning into the Roman world, so a name that sounds like an ordinary Roman personal name originally pointed to the ocean. The name became a label because of what Pelagius argued. He insisted that people could choose to live without sin through their own effort, with God's grace serving as help rather than as an absolute necessity. Opponents, most prominently Augustine of Hippo, argued that human nature was so damaged by original sin that grace had to come first. The dispute over free will and grace grew into one of the major theological controversies of the early Church, and Pelagius's name came to stand for the position his critics rejected.

Synonyms: Pelagius I, Pelagius II