Answer to the Pelagian I

This volume includes the following works: The Punishment and Forgiveness of Sins and the Baptism of Little Ones (De peccatorum meritis et remissione et de baptismo parvulorum), The Spirit and the Letter (De spiritu et littera), Nature and Grace (De natura et gratia), The Perfection of Human Righteousness (De perfectione justitiae hominis), The Deeds of Pelagius (De gestis Pelagii), The Grace of Christ and Original Sin (De gratia Christi et peccato originali), and The Nature and Origin of the Human Soul (De anima et ejus origine). What we call the Pelagian heresy actually took many forms, and had multiple proponents at different stages before it was officially condemned. Augustine, as bishop of Hippo, saw that these teachings were dangerous and set out to address them by explaining the true Church doctrine on these subjects. He first denounced the heresies verbally, in sermons and conferences. When a friend asked him to clarify the Christian doctrines contradicted by certain heresies, Augustine wrote down his rebuttal at length. Over time he wrote nearly a dozen distinct texts in direct answer to the various Pelagian heresies. This volume contains seven works of Saint Augustine of Hippo written between 412 and 420 or 421. They are all concerned with the Pelagian heresy from the time of its inception until after its condemnation in 418 by the emperor Honorius, by the Council of Carthage, and by Pope Zosimus. The works are: The Punishment and Forgiveness of Sins and the Baptism of Little Ones The Spirit and the Letter Nature and Grace The Perfection of Human Righteousness The Deeds of Pelagius The Grace of Christ and Original Sin The Nature and Origin of the Human Soul