Divine and Human Action in Salvation in Augustine

This chapter engages the work of Augustine on divine grace and human freedom in salvation. It works through the types of divine action seen in Augustine’s writings on grace in the Pelagian controversy as well as his work on baptism with respect to the Donatists. The author also examines a precursor to Augustine, Cyril of Jerusalem, and his work on catechesis and divine action. He considers what these theologians had to say about divine action in grace, baptism, forgiveness, and in the experience of salvation. Considering Augustine’s theology of grace, the author notes the perennial problems in reconciling divine causation of grace with human freedom in salvation.