Pelagianism is a Christian theological position that holds that the fall did not taint human nature and that humans by divine grace have free will to achieve human perfection. Pelagius, an ascetic and philosopher from the British Isles, taught that God could not command believers to do the impossible, and therefore it must be possible to satisfy all divine commandments. He also taught that it was unjust to punish one person for the sins of another; therefore, infants are born blameless. Pelagius accepted no excuse for sinful behaviour and taught that all Christians, regardless of their station in life, should live unimpeachable, sinless lives.
Vincent of Lérins was a Gallic monk and author of early Christian writings. One example was the Commonitorium, c. 434, which offers guidance in the orthodox teaching of Christianity. Suspected of semi-Pelagianism, he opposed the Augustinian model of grace and was probably the recipient of Prosper of Aquitaine's Responsiones ad Capitula Objectionum Vincentianarum. His feast day is celebrated on 24 May.
Pelagius was a British theologian known for promoting a system of doctrines which emphasized human choice in salvation and denied original sin. Pelagius was accused of heresy at the synod of Jerusalem in 415 and his doctrines were harshly criticized by Augustine of Hippo, especially the Pelagian views about mankind's good nature and individual responsibility for choosing asceticism. Pelagius especially stressed the freedom of human will. Very little is known about the personal life and career of Pelagius.
Prosper of Aquitaine, also called Prosper Tiro, was a Christian writer and disciple of Augustine of Hippo, and the first continuator of Jerome's Universal Chronicle.
De Viris Illustribus, meaning "concerning illustrious men", represents a genre of literature which evolved during the Italian Renaissance in imitation of the exemplary literature of Ancient Rome. It inspired the widespread commissioning of groups of matching portraits of famous men from history to serve as moral role models.
Caelestius was the major follower of the heretical Christian teacher Pelagius and the heresy of Pelagianism, which was opposed to Augustine of Hippo and his actual Christian doctrine in original sin, and was later declared to be heresy and is recognized as such by all truly Christian religions.
Julian of Eclanum was bishop of Eclanum, near today's Benevento (Italy). He was a distinguished leader of the Pelagians of 5th century.
Faustus of Riez was an early Bishop of Riez (Rhegium) in Southern Gaul (Provence), the best known and most distinguished defender of so-called Semipelagianism.
Audentius was bishop of Toledo (Hispania), according to tradition in the years 385-395 AD. In the Catholic Encyclopedia (1912), the Count of Cedillo places his episcopate around the year 376. In the 17th century, William Cave supposed him to have lived about 260 AD.
De Viris Illustribus is a collection of short biographies of 135 authors, written in Latin, by the 4th-century Latin Church Father Jerome. He completed this work at Bethlehem in 392–393 AD. The work consists of a prologue plus 135 chapters, each consisting of a brief biography. Jerome himself is the subject of the final chapter. A Greek version of the book, possibly by the same Sophronius who is the subject of Chapter 134, also survives. Many biographies take as their subject figures important in Christian Church history and pay especial attention to their careers as writers. It "was written as an apologetic work to prove that the Church had produced learned men." The book was dedicated to Flavius Lucius Dexter, who served as high chamberlain to Theodosius I and as praetorian prefect to Honorius. Dexter was the son of Saint Pacianus, who is eulogized in the work.
Synod of Diospolis was a 415 synod in Diospolis in which Pelagius was accused of heresy by the exiled Gallic bishops. It followed a council held earlier that year.
John II was bishop of Jerusalem from AD 387 to AD 417. John II succeeded to the episcopal throne of Jerusalem on the death of Cyril in 386. He was the author, according to an increasing number of modern scholars, of the five Mystagogical Catecheses traditionally ascribed to his predecessor Cyril.
Claudius Marius Victorius was a rhetor of the fifth century CE from Marseille. He is known for a Latin poem on Genesis in hexameters and a letter to the abbot Salomon against the moral degradation of his age.
Arabianus was an eminent Christian writer who lived around 196. He composed some books on Christian doctrine, which are lost. Nothing more is known of him, and the writers who mention him, like Eusebius, do not even tell us the title of the work Arabianus wrote. Jerome says that he wrote "certain small works relating to Christian doctrine."
De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis is the title of many works:
Musaeus of Marseilles was a priest from Massilia. According to Gennadius, he died "during the reign of Leo and Majorian", between 457 and 461. We know very little about his life.
Candidus was a Christian theologian of the late 2nd century.
Appion was a Christian theologian of the late 2nd century.
Sextus was a Christian theologian of the late 2nd century.
Theodorus was a Christian biblical scholar of the mid-4th century AD. He was bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, being appointed some time between 328 and 334; he was an ally of Eusebius against the Athanasians. He should not be confused with Theodore Stratelates (281–319), sometimes called "Theodore of Heraclea"; Theodore Stratelates lived in Heraclea Pontica.
