The Second Helvetic Confession: 8.6b–8: Week 11
Chapter VIII—Of Man’s Fall, Sin and the Cause of Sin
The Sects.
6b. We therefore condemn all who have taught contrary to this, especially Pelagius and all Pelagians, together with the Jovinians who, with the Stoics, regard all sins as equal. In this whole matter we agree with St. Augustine who derived and defended his view from Holy Scriptures. Moreover, we condemn Florinus and Blastus, against whom Irenaeus wrote, and all who make God the author of sin.
God Is Not The Author Of Sin, And How Far He Is Said To Harden.
6c. It is expressly written: “Thou art not a God who delights in wickedness. Thou hatest all evildoers. Thou destroyest those who speak lies” (Ps. 5:4 ff.). And again: “When the devil lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Moreover, there is enough sinfulness and corruption in us that it is not necessary for God to infuse into us a new or still greater perversity. [7.] When, therefore, it is said in Scripture that God hardens, blinds and delivers up to a reprobate mind, it is to be understood that God does it by a just judgment as a just Judge and Avenger. Finally, as often as God in Scripture is said or seems to do something evil, it is not thereby said that man does not do evil, but that God permits it and does not prevent it, according to his just judgment, who could prevent it if he wished, or because he turns man’s evil into good, as he did in the case of the sin of Joseph’s brethren, or because he governs sins lest they break out and rage more than is appropriate. St. Augustine writes in his Enchiridion: “What happens contrary to his will occurs, in a wonderful and ineffable way, not apart from his will. For it would not happen if he did not allow it. And yet he does not allow it unwillingly but willingly. But he who is good would not permit evil to be done, unless, being omnipotent, he could bring good out of evil.” Thus wrote Augustine.
Curious Questions.
8. Other questions, such as whether God willed Adam to fall, or incited him to fall, or why he did not prevent the fall, and similar questions, we reckon among curious questions (unless perchance the wickedness of heretics or of other churlish men compels us also to explain them out of the Word of God, as the godly teachers of the Church have frequently done), knowing that the Lord forbade man to eat of the forbidden fruit and punished his transgression. We also know that what things are done are not evil with respect to the providence, will, and the power of God, but in respect of Satan and our will opposing the will of God.
Pelagius: (fl 400) A contemporary of Augustine, he gave his name to Pelagianism although he was not the most eloquent exponent. Pelagianism held that Adam’s fall on affected himself, it denied original sin, and stated the rest of humanity sins by imitation. Baptism forgives past sins but then as Christians we by the power of our wills have the ability to cease sinning. NDT
Jovinian: (d. c. 430) He regarded all sins as equal in measure and that after Spirit and water baptism the Christian does not sin. He also championed a higher view of marriage than was prevalent at the time, drawing the ire of Jerome. W
Stoics: a preChristian philosophy generalyl known for its belief that virtue was attainable and the highest good. It had some influence on early Christianity. NDT
Florinus: a heretic mentioned by Irenaeus as having a connection with Gnosticism who at one time made God the author of sin. Little else is known of him. CCEL
Blastus: a schismatic, apparently also held God is the author of sin. CCEL
Irenaues: (c. 130–c. 200) defended Christianity from Gnosticism in his Against Heresies. He also championed the Scriptures and the role of the Church. NDT
