Pelagians

Pelagians were a Christian sect that emerged in the 4th century AD, primarily in North Africa. They were named after Pelagius, a North African bishop who taught that humans could achieve salvation through their own efforts and free will, without the need for divine grace. This belief was a departure from the prevailing doctrine of the time, which held that salvation was a gift from God, and that human efforts could only supplement, not replace, divine grace.

Pelagius' teachings were condemned by the Council of Carthage in 418 AD, and he was excommunicated. However, his ideas continued to influence other Christians, particularly in the West. The Pelagian heresy was further condemned by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, which affirmed the traditional doctrine of grace and free will.

Pelagians believed in the concept of "original sin," but they taught that it was not inherited from Adam, but rather a result of human nature. They also believed in the possibility of total depravity, where humans could be so corrupt that they could not be saved by divine grace alone.

The Pelagian heresy had a significant impact on the development of Christian theology, particularly in the West. It led to the development of the concept of "semi-Pelagianism," which held that humans could achieve some level of salvation through their own efforts, but not total salvation. This doctrine was further developed by figures such as Augustine of Hippo and was eventually condemned by the Council of Orange in 529 AD.