Calvinism Debate Prior to John Calvin

Many people do not realize that Calvinism as a system of theology did not begin with John Calvin. In fact John Calvin during his lifetime was never as important of a leader during the Reformation as Martin Luther was. Calvin wasn't as outspoken as Luther, or as controversial. It was not until years later that Calvin became the point-man of Reformed Theology. Calvin's popularity was due mostly to his his extensive writings, especially "The Institutes of Christian Religion", and his more Biblical teaching of the Ordinances compared to Martin Luther. Also, Reformed theology in Western Europe was called Calvinism because many European reformers from countries like Scotland and France studied under John Calvin in Geneva and identified their theology more with Calvin than Luther or Augustine.

The doctrines that constitute Calvinism are sometimes called "Paulinism" because of the Apostle Paul's extensive writings on soteriology. Some of us just call it "the Gospel". Indeed, these are Biblical doctrines that were affirmed centuries prior to John Calvin (c.1509-c.1564). The Church Fathers, Polemicists, and Apologists of the first few centuries of church history were primarily concerned with clarifying the Christian doctrines concerning the person of Christ and the essence of the Trinity. But in the Fourth Century the theological debate of the Christian world significantly shifted to soteriology. This is the origins of a system of theology that would one day become known as Calvinism.


Here is a sample of what we may call the pre-Calvin Calvinism debate.

Pelagius (370-435)

Pelagius believed that Adam was born morally neutral and could either sin or not. When Adam did sin it did not affect his will, but only changed his destiny. Pelagius believes that all people are born morally neutral just like Adam and could hypothetically never sin. Pelagius did not believe in the curse of sin or the doctrine of “original sin.” Pelagius is known for saying, “If I ought, I can.” Pelagius also said, “All therefore have a free will to sin or not to sin… everyone has it within the power of his own will to do anything or not to do it. Our victory over sin and Satan proceeds not from the help which God affords but is owing to our own free will.”

Concerning Grace: Pelagius believed that God gave man grace to make the right choices.
Concerning the Sinlessness of Christ: He believe that Jesus along with a few other Old Testament people proved that a man can live without ever sinning.
Concerning Election: God chooses man only because He foresaw that man would choose God.
Concerning Salvation: Man can choose to sin and change his destiny thus losing his salvation.


Augustine (354-430)

Augustine believed that all men except for Jesus (because of the Virgin Birth) have inherited the curse sin, the propensity to sin, and the guilt of sin from Adam through Traducianism based on Romans 5:12. Augustine believed that Adam’s free will was changed after the Fall. Before the Fall, Adam was able not to sin; after the Fall, Adam was unable not to sin. Furthermore, all men as sinners add Actual Sin to their Original Sin. Augustine believed that man could only be saved by the sovereign grace of God regenerating a man’s spirit and giving him the faith to believe and repent. Augustine said, “Give what Thou commandest and command what Thou wilt.”

Concerning Man’s Will: Unregenerate man cannot do anything righteous or godly; he is spiritually dead towards God. Man can only sin and sin more; even man’s good deeds are tainted with sinful motives. Man cannot merit good from God.
Concerning Election: Based on His sovereign, gracious will, God chose only some sinners to be saved, not based on foreseen faith or works.
Concerning Salvation: Regeneration, justification, and perseverance are dependent on God and are irreversible, and lead to a life of holiness (not perfection).


Semi-Pelagianism (360-435)

John Cassian tried to modify Pelagius’ doctrines by teaching that man was not born with the guilt of Adam but with a tendency to sin. This became known as Semi-Pelagianism. It was condemned at the synods of Orange and Valence (529).

Concerning Man’s Will: Man’s will is neither good or evil.
Concerning Salvation: Man did not inherit Adam’s guilt. But Man is not innocent and cannot save himself, but needs God’s grace. Man can initiate salvation by asking God for grace and God will give it to him.


Gottschalk (804-869)

Gottschalk was a German monk. He said, “Before the worlds and before whatever God did from the beginning, He foreordained to the Kingdom whom He willed and He foreordained to death whom He willed; that those whom have been foreordained to death cannot be saved, and those who have been foreordained to the Kingdom cannot perish; that God does not wish all men to be saved, but only those who are saved… and that after the first man fell by free will, no one can employ free will for doing good but only for doing evil.” Gottschalk believed that foreordination precedes everything else in the decrees of God, including foreknowledge.


Therefore, we understand with just these few examples that the essential doctrines of Calvinism were being significantly debated since the Fourth Century. And that goes without mentioning Savonarola, John Wycliffe, John Hus, Philip Melanchthon, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Bucer, Peter Vermigli, Heinrich Bullinger, the Anabaptists, and many others. So to be a Calvinist is to believe the Gospel as it has been preached throughout church history by true orthodox Christians. It is not some theology that one man came up with one day. But it is the doctrines of salvation as they have been preached since Paul wrote the Book of Romans. John Calvin just eloquently systematized the theology that it may be studied thoroughly and taught accurately. But if you are uncomfortable with the term "Calvinist" let me suggest a few synonyms that you may wish to identify with: Reformed Theology, Reformed Baptist, and Sovereign Grace Baptist. Either way, those who reject the Doctrines of Grace may still hate you... but Jesus did warn us of that.