5th – early 6th c.; Council of Orange – 529

The Semi-Pelagian controversy and the Second Council of Orange (529)

Soon after Augustine's death (430), opposition to his strict doctrine of grace and predestination arose in southern Gaul, especially Marseille. It came from monks led by John Cassian, along with Vincent of Lérins and Faustus of Riez; they rejected Pelagianism. Prosper of Aquitaine and other defenders of Augustine debated them for nearly a century.

In 529 the Second Council of Orange adopted a compromise formula, drawing on Prosper's "Sayings" and Caesarius of Arles's treatise "On Grace." The doctrine of predestination to evil was directly anathematized. The council's decisions remained little known in the Middle Ages and were "rediscovered" only in the Reformation era.