Prevenient

Prevenient derives from the Latin praevenire, meaning “to come before.” In Christian theology, prevenient grace refers to a grace that comes before a person’s decision, enabling them to respond to God’s offer of salvation.

The doctrine is most closely associated with Arminian and Methodist theology and was popularized by John Wesley, though related ideas appear in earlier Protestant writers. It holds that grace is extended to all people, preceding any human choice, and it does not by itself determine belief. Instead, it enables freedom of response, allowing individuals to accept or reject the gospel. Because it is resistible, prevenient grace may be accepted or rejected.

In contrast, some Reformed traditions do not use the term in the same sense; they emphasize monergistic grace that effectually brings about faith for the elect and treat what is called prevenient grace as either non-universal or subsumed under common grace or the work of the Spirit in general.

Implications of the doctrine include an emphasis on human responsibility and opportunity in salvation, as well as practical considerations for evangelism and assurance of grace. Critics argue that prevenient grace can appear to compromise divine sovereignty or blur the line between grace and human effort; supporters contend that it preserves genuine human response within God’s initiative.

Related concepts include common grace, saving grace, irresistible grace, and free will.