In church history there are basically only three types of theology.

Well that's what Dr. Sproll said and he went on to identify these three types of theology as

Augustinianism, Pelagianism, and semi-plagianism.

So what are we talking about here?

Well, to understand what is at stake here in this statement of identifying these only three types of theology,

we have to go back to the four tens.

And the issue is of course Augustine's teaching of Adam and Adam's sin in its connection to us.

And the challenge of that teaching by a monk named Pelagius.

He's from the British Isles, but he was rather parapetetic.

He made his way to Rome.

And then as the Visigoths were making their way to Rome,

he went to Africa, and then from there he went

and even to the Middle East.

But we're in the four tens and the issue is that Pelagius denied the transmission of Adam's

sin.

He believed that Adam was an example for us, but that was the extent of the

connection. So we are not born sinners. In fact, we are born with the ability to

not sin and we are born with the ability to choose God and to

assert our will to do good and to be good. Of course the Guston attacked this

and he spent much energy in the 420s,

refuting Pelagius and some of his key disciples

in 431 at the Council of Ephesus.

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