Did Augustine believe in predestination? Part I- free will

When, however, we speak of a free will to do what is right, we of course mean that liberty in which man was created. Chapter 81 of On Grace and Rebuke (aka On Admonition and Grace) written near the end of his life

One of the objections I've heard to Augustine believing in predestination is that he taught on free will.  For example, the all-knowing, always correct Wikipedia article on him says, "The Catholic Church considers Augustine's teaching to be consistent with free will. He often said that any can be saved if they wish".  Apparently, it does not look good to have one of the Catholic Church's two greatest theologians holding to one of the distinguishing doctrines of Reformers such as Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin.

Augustine did write at length on free will.  He had titles to his works such as On Free Choice (Will), On Grace and Free Will (Choice) .  But, I do not think his view of free will is the same as our contemporary view.

We view free will as the ability to decide on a course of action and do it.  For example, I decide I will not make an angry comment to another person and do not do it.  Augustine seems to stop his definition of free will at the first part- the decision.

In chapter 17 (16 in some versions) of On Grace and Rebuke, speaking on the taming of the tongue in James he sarcastically asks, Why should I pray to God that it be accorded me, if it may be had of man? Ought we not to object to this prayer lest injury be done to free will which is self-sufficient in the possibility of nature for discharging all duties of righteousness?  Later, speaking on the petition to lead us not into temptation, he comments, ...yet our will alone is not enough to secure its being done...2  He seems to be view the will as being able to do, go, and say whatever it wants, provided it does so within the confines of a prison cell.  The will appears to be free internally but enslaved externally to the flesh.  It's irrelevant if the will is free in regards to sin, it does not have power to do as it wishes For I suppose a blind man would like to see, but is unable; but whenever a man wishes to do a thing and cannot, there is present to him the will, but he has lost the capacity (chapter 59 or LI). 

He sees sin as destroying free will in chapter 30 of the Enchiridion (aka On Faith, Hope, and Love)
For it was in the evil use of his free will that man destroyed himself and his will at the same time. For as a man who kills himself is still alive when he kills himself, but having killed himself is then no longer alive and cannot resuscitate himself after he has destroyed his own life--so also sin which arises from the action of the free will turns out to be victor over the will and the free will is destroyed.

A few sentences down, he arrives at a conclusion that teaches freedom is relative He serves freely who freely does the will of his master. Accordingly he who is slave to sin is free to sin. But thereafter he will not be free to do right unless he is delivered from the bondage of sin and begins to be the servant of righteousness. One only goes from being enslaved to sin to enslaved to Christ. There is no absolute freedom to chose. 

Later, in chapter 75 of On Rebuke and Grace, he refers to Ambrose' teaching that man's will is prepared by God.  He deals with Pelagius' quote of Xystus by referring to his teaching on sanctification that it is indeed through God's love that men are to be like God-- even the love which is she abroad in our hearts, not by any ability of nature or the free will within us, but by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Here he teaches free will does not even play a role in perfecting us. 


In chapter 105 of the Enchiridion, Augustine describes man as passing through 3 phases regarding sin and free will:
1.  during creation, we had the ability to sin or not to sin posse non peccare et posse peccare
2.  after the fall, we only had the ability to sin  posse peccare
3.  after the establishment of the kingdom, we will not be able to will iniquit

To summarize, our wills, free or not, are powerless to choose God unless he enables them todo so.  Needless to say, this does not prove that Augustine held to predestination which I would describe as a combination of the doctrines of Irresistible Grace (if God decides to save someone, they will eventually yield to his grace) and Unconditional Election (God chooses some for undeserved salvation and others for deserved damnation regardless of whether they would have chosen him).  This post is simply to show that Augustine does not view free will in the same way it is debated among Calvinists, Lutherans, Catholics, and Arminians.  I will deal with Augustine's views on these topics in the future.







1.  I find it interesting that they know what someone who lived for roughly 60 years, 1600 years ago often said and the context in which he said it
2.  Note that he's talking about Christians here.  I struggle with this because I think Christ frees us from sin.  Perhaps, we would also do well to remember Jesus' teaching I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.