The Christian Combat in Augustine

An essay on problem of Grace and Free will

Abstract

Though Augustine's view of the relationship between divine grace and man's free will has been one of the most controversial issues on his thought, there is still no consensus of opinion on it. His theory of grace was completed in Ad Simplicianum in 396, through the central idea “congruous calling”, which accomplished an intricate synthesis of grace, free will and predestination. The theory, however, has often been mistakenly understood as moral determinism. It is necessary to take into account the sequence of his works to interpret the point. In the same year, he also wrote De agone christiano, which emphasized the Christian struggle especially in the stadium of the heart. The next year, he began to write Confessiones, in which Augustine describes the conflict within his own mind in his conversion experience. It is worthless to dispute either grace or free will without concrete situations for each individual. Each man must confront the conflict through his own faith, but for Augustine, it was only grace that enabled man to struggle with himself.