The Distinctive Issues of the Latin West

Lecture 20

T

he 4th and 5th centuries, dominated by theological disputes over the
Trinity and Christology in the East, also saw the development of a
flourishing Latin Christianity, especially in Italy, Gaul, and North
Africa—one that also included controversies. Although Latin authors
contributed to the larger theological debates, the issues distinctive to the
West tended to be less theoretical than pastoral and ecclesial: Who belongs to
the church and on what grounds? Is the church a pure sect of the sanctified,
or is it a body that includes the weak and the flawed? What are the grounds
and requirements of salvation, and what is the degree of human involvement
in salvation?

Donatism
• The paradigmatic controversies of Latin theology are Donatism and
Pelagianism—each named for its representative figures. Donatism
dominated North Africa for more than 100 years and heavily
involved ecclesial and state politics.

•    The controversy began with a dispute over the election of the

bishop of Carthage. The underlying issue, though, was the validity

of the church’s sacraments, including ordination. Did it depend on

personal holiness?

o The majority party elected a man named Caecilian as bishop

of Carthage in 311. But he was regarded by a minority party

as morally compromised. In this minority view, Caecilian did

not have the requisite holiness to be a bishop, and therefore,

his further sacramental actions as a bishop (baptizing and

confirming others) would be invalid. Note the element of

rigorism represented by the minority position.

o The minority party elected its own counter-bishop, named

Marjorinus, in 312. The minority party gained a new and

vigorous leader in 315 when Donatus took over. The Donatists