Caelestius

Caelestius was a Christian theologian of the fifth century, who, along with Julian of Eclanum held the positions of named after Pelagius, Pelagianism in the Pelagian controversy, which broke out 411 in North Africa.

Life and work

Caelestius came about the year 411 to North Africa, after he along with his teacher Pelagius of Rome, which was besieged by the Goths, had been forced to flee. While Pelagius further moved to Syria, located in Carthage Caelestius applied to a presbyter office. Probably radicalized Caelestius the views of his teacher and called so in any case the contradiction of Augustine out because Caelestius denied any corruption of man, of human nature and his being. Because of his denial of original sin has been convicted 411/412 at a synod. Furthermore, the following views of the Caelestius were discarded:

• Adam's fall was only Adam himself " wounded ", but not all;
• Newly born children were as Adam before the fall;
• The law opens up a way of salvation;
• Even before the coming of Christ there were sinless people.

417 Caelestius was condemned by the Roman Bishop Innocent. Caelestius turned to his successor Zosimus with the request for review and appeal. To this end, he presented a testimony of his faith, the 417 was evaluated positively in Rome. This suggests that a single doctrine to original sin in Rome were not yet available. Zosimus reviewed the conviction and went to the revision of the judgment, but then protest taking place in North Africa, in which Augustine of Hippo played an important role, stopped him. Zosimus was the allegations and accusations from North Africa, however, skeptical, however, he ordered the relevant prosecutor from North Africa, Paulinus of Milan, to Rome to explain his position ( cf. Paredi ).

Finally, led a partisanship of the emperor by a rescript from late autumn 417 in 418 to a final condemnation of Caelestius along with Pelagius by Zosimus, while Julian of Aeclanum lodged protest.

Caelestius died probably after 431