When Did Caelestius Become Known as a Disciple of Pelagius? Reassessing the Sources

Abstract:Traditionally, Caelestius has been considered a disciple of Pelagius, and even in scholarly circles this image of master and disciple has been applied to the pair down to the present day. Otto Wermelinger questioned this alleged discipleship more than fifty years ago, but his claim was not taken up in subsequent scholarship. Taking Wermelinger's doubts as a point of departure, the present article reexamines the idea that Caelestius was a disciple of Pelagius. We show that sources are lacking to prove that either Caelestius or Pelagius thought about their relationship as one of discipleship. That characterization of their relationship was a heresiological tactic meant to damage Pelagius; it was probably first deployed around the Synod of Diospolis in 415 and was subsequently systematically adopted (and popularized) by Augustine of Hippo. The treatise Praedestinatus and the anti-Pelagian advocate Marius Mercator illustrate how Augustine's portrayal of Caelestius as a disciple of Pelagius was received early on.