Pelagius on Romans

I’m currently reading Theodore De Bruyn’s translation of Pelagius’ commentary on Romans and it is fascinating stuff.

I strongly urge everyone to read the prologue (which you can view on Amazon.com preview !!!!).

It sounds so much like James Dunn or N.T. Wright – yes, Reformed critics will say, “Aha,” I knew there were pelagian heretics – not about grace and synergism, but about how Romans tackles the issue of Jewish boasting and Gentile anti-Semitism.

Pelagius concludes the prologue by saying:

Thrusting himself between those who were disputing in this way, the apostle interrupts the questions of the two parties so as to establish that neither of them deserved salvation by their own righteousness; rather, both peoples sinned knowingly and gravely, the Jews inasmuch as they dishonored God by transgression of the law, the Gentiles in that, although they ought to have worshiped God as the Creator revealed by the creation, they changed his glory into idols fashioned by hand. With [irrefutable] logic the apostle shows, therefore, that they are both equal, both having obtained in like manner, especially when in one and the same law it [was] foretold that both Jews and Gentiles were destined to be called to faith in Christ. Wherefore, humbling them in turn, he exhorts them to peace and [to] concord.