Pelagianism denotes the idea that human nature is not affected by sin so that human beings are inescapably sinful. It states that we are capable of perfectly good deeds as well as evil deeds. As the free dictionary puts it: “It denied original sin and affirmed the ability of humans to be righteous by the exercise of free will. “
Proverbs teaches that we must pursue wisdom or face the consequences of our own folly. Some might accuse Solomon that he is teaching Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism.
My response is 1. No, he isn’t. And 2. there is a reason why you might think so.
So, firstly: Proverbs assumes that we are all and every one of us sinners: “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9). It is a rhetorical question that expects they answer to be understood as no one.
This is consistent, by the way, with the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple where he asked God to hear prayers for forgiveness from his people because “there is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46). And Ecclesiastes, also written by Solomon, is likewise consistent: “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
Granted, this does not spell out the theology of “Original Sin,” but not every passage in the Bible does so. It does rule out the possibility that someone might be sinless, which Pelagianism holds is at least hypothetically possible.
Also, Proverbs has a lot of warnings against pride.
- “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
- “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
- “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).
- “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23).
Pelagianism is not the only possible basis for pride, but repudiating pride is inconsistent with Pelagianism.
So why do people worry about Pelagianism, semi-Pelagianism, or other kinds of “works righteousness” in Proverbs?
And this is why Proverbs might seem Pelagian, not just to someone working with an antinomian understanding of grace, but to anyone who reads Proverbs and doesn’t differentiate maturation from sanctification.