Total depravity

Total depravity (also called radical corruption^[1] or pervasive depravity) is a Protestant theological doctrine derived from the concept of original sin. It teaches that, as a consequence of the Fall, every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of sin as a result of their fallen nature and, apart from the efficacious (irresistible) or prevenient (enabling) grace of God, is completely unable to choose by themselves to follow God, refrain from evil, or accept the gift of salvation as it is offered.

The doctrine is advocated to various degrees by many Protestant denominations, including Lutheranism^[2]^[3]^[4] and all Calvinist churches.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] Arminian denominations, such as Methodists, believe and teach total depravity, but with distinct differences,^[9]^[10] the most important of which is the distinction between irresistible grace and prevenient grace.^[11]

^ Sproul, R. C. (March 25, 2017). "TULIP and Reformed Theology: Total Depravity". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021. I like to replace the term total depravity with my favorite designation, which is radical corruption. Ironically, the word radical has its roots in the Latin word for "root", which is radix, and it can be translated root or core.
^ "Calvinism and Lutheranism Compared". WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2023. "Total Depravity – Lutherans and Calvinists agree." Yes this is correct. Both agree on the devastating nature of the fall and that man by nature has no power to aid in his conversions...and that election to salvation is by grace. In Lutheranism the German term for election is Gnadenwahl, election by grace--there is no other kind.
^ Andreä, Jakob; Chemnitz, Martin; Selnecker, Nikolaus; Chytraeus, David; Musculus, Andreas; Körner, Christoph (1577), Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord
^ Melanchthon, Philip, ed. (1530), The Augsburg Confession
^ "The Canons of Dordt". reformed.org. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
^ Westminster Assembly (1646), Westminster Confession of Faith
^ "Westminster Larger Catechism 1-50". reformed.org. Question 25. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
^ "The Heidelberg Catechism". reformed.org. Question 8. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
^ Arminius, James The Writings of James Arminius (three vols.), tr. James Nichols and W. R. Bagnall (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1956), I:252.
^ Cite error: The named reference MQR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Arnold, Johnathan (8 May 2020). "Do Wesleyan Arminians Believe in Total Depravity?". Holy Joys. Retrieved 14 January 2022. Wesleyans and Calvinists primarily disagree on the nature of the grace that brings men to salvation. To answer the question, "How do totally depraved sinners come to Christ?" Calvinists posit irresistible grace; Wesleyans posit (universal, enabling, resistible) prevenient grace.

[1] Sproul, R. C. (March 25, 2017). "TULIP and Reformed Theology: Total Depravity". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021. I like to replace the term total depravity with my favorite designation, which is radical corruption. Ironically, the word radical has its roots in the Latin word for "root", which is radix, and it can be translated root or core.

[WELS-Compare-2] "Calvinism and Lutheranism Compared". WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2023. "Total Depravity – Lutherans and Calvinists agree." Yes this is correct. Both agree on the devastating nature of the fall and that man by nature has no power to aid in his conversions...and that election to salvation is by grace. In Lutheranism the German term for election is Gnadenwahl, election by grace--there is no other kind.

[3] Andreä, Jakob; Chemnitz, Martin; Selnecker, Nikolaus; Chytraeus, David; Musculus, Andreas; Körner, Christoph (1577), Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord

[4] Melanchthon, Philip, ed. (1530), The Augsburg Confession

[5] "The Canons of Dordt". reformed.org. Retrieved 2023-05-20.

[6] Westminster Assembly (1646), Westminster Confession of Faith

[7] "Westminster Larger Catechism 1-50". reformed.org. Question 25. Retrieved 2023-05-20.

[8] "The Heidelberg Catechism". reformed.org. Question 8. Retrieved 2023-05-20.

[9] Arminius, James The Writings of James Arminius (three vols.), tr. James Nichols and W. R. Bagnall (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1956), I:252.

[MQR-10] Cite error: The named reference MQR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Arnold2020-11] Arnold, Johnathan (8 May 2020). "Do Wesleyan Arminians Believe in Total Depravity?". Holy Joys. Retrieved 14 January 2022. Wesleyans and Calvinists primarily disagree on the nature of the grace that brings men to salvation. To answer the question, "How do totally depraved sinners come to Christ?" Calvinists posit irresistible grace; Wesleyans posit (universal, enabling, resistible) prevenient grace.

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