The Council of Carthage was an important church council that took place in the year 419 AD in the city of Carthage, located in modern-day Tunisia. This council addressed several theological issues that were controversial at the time and helped shape the doctrine and practice of Christianity, particularly in the Western Roman Empire.
Some key things to know about the Council of Carthage:
When and Why It Was Called
The Council was called by Aurelius, the bishop of Carthage, with the approval of Pope Zosimus. There were two main reasons it was called:
1. To address the teachings of Pelagius, which emphasized human free will over divine grace in salvation. Pelagius’ ideas had been condemned at previous councils but were still spreading.
2. To deal with appeals made by a group of bishops who had been condemned at prior councils on various charges. The Council provided a chance to resolve these outstanding legal-ecclesiastical issues.
Who Attended
The Council was attended by over 200 bishops from all across North Africa. There were also two papal legates (representatives of the Pope) present. Many of the most prominent clergy of the region were there, making it an authoritative gathering.
What Was Decided
Some of the key rulings and canon laws passed at the Council of Carthage included:
– The condemnation of Pelagianism as heresy. The Council strongly affirmed the doctrine of original sin and the necessity of God’s grace for salvation. Pelagius’ views were rejected in a series of detailed statements.
– The declaration that baptism was necessary for salvation, even for infants. This repudiated the teachings of Pelagius, who said that baptism was not required.
– The issuing of a list of canonical Scripture. This was one of the first councils to authorize the exact list of books belonging in the Bible. The canon was largely the same as today’s 27 New Testament books.
– Rules about church administration and discipline. For example, requirements about ordination, reception of converts from heretical groups, and conditions for bringing accusations against church members.
– Regulations about marriage and sexuality. Such as prohibitions against rebaptism, bigamy, and marriage between certain close relatives.
– The resolution of legal-ecclesiastical appeals made by various North African bishops. The Council rejected many of these appeals after investigations, removing the bishops from office.
The Aftermath and Significance
The rulings of the Council of Carthage were widely accepted and backed by the authority of the papal representatives. The detailed statements against Pelagianism helped suppress this teaching in the West. The Council also provided a model for future ecumenical councils dealing with theological issues.
The Canons of Carthage, its list of biblical books, and its regulatory decisions went on to strongly influence Christian practice in the West. They strengthened church unity and hierarchy, shaped doctrines like original sin for centuries to come, and helped standardize the biblical canon.
The Council did not completely settle the Pelagian controversy, which continued to pop up periodically. But it set the tone for Western Christianity’s staunch rejection of Pelagius’ theology. This would help differentiate Western and Eastern Christianity.
Overall, the Council of Carthage played a pivotal role in 4th-5th century Christianity. It was one of the key events shaping early Catholic doctrines and practices during an important transitional period for the Western church. The Council’s proceedings give insight into early church politics, controversies, and methods for resolving conflict. Its influence continued to be felt for many generations after.
In summary, the Council affirmed mainstream views against Pelagianism, issued authoritative regulations on matters of doctrine and discipline, settled previous legal appeals, and helped standardize the biblical canon. By addressing these core issues, the Council of Carthage bolstered orthodoxy and unity across the Western church in the face of schisms and heresies. Its legacy as a model of episcopal authority and church governance under papal primacy continues even to the present day.
Pelagian Controversy Background
To fully understand the Council’s condemnations of Pelagius, it is important to understand the 5th century theological controversy centered around his teachings.
Who Was Pelagius?
Pelagius was a British monk who lived in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He was known for his asceticism, focus on personal holiness, and ideas about free will. By the 390s he had traveled to Rome, where his teachings grew influential but also raised alarm among the clergy.
What Did Pelagius Teach?
Pelagius rejected the orthodox doctrine of original sin, which held that all humans inherited the sin and guilt of Adam and were inclined toward evil. He was disturbed by what he saw as moral laziness arising from this doctrine.
Instead, Pelagius argued that humans were born in a state of innocence. We had free choice to achieve righteousness and did not need divine aid. Pelagius denied that Adam’s sin had fundamentally damaged human nature. He said individuals could live perfect sinless lives through their own efforts.
This clashed with mainstream views stressing original sin, humility about human moral limitations, and the necessity of God’s grace. Critics like Augustine said Pelagius was downplaying the redemptive work of Christ and dangerously exalting human ability.
Why Was Pelagianism Controversial?
For orthodox theologians, Pelagius’ views undermined key doctrines like:
– Original sin: Pelagius denied humans shared in and were tainted by Adam’s transgression. This contradicted Scripture (Romans 5:12-21).
– Depravity: His optimism about natural human goodness contradicted the bleak view of fallen humanity needing redemption.
– Grace: Pelagius marginalized grace; humans could be righteous through free will alone. This opposed views like Augustine’s on predestination and sovereign grace.
– Atonement: If humans were not enslaved by sin, Christ’s atonement seemed less crucial. Pelagius saw it as mainly an inspiring example rather than the remedy for a fundamental ailment.
There were also ecclesiastical power dynamics involved. Pelagius’ autonomous asceticism threatened the clergy’s authority as dispensers of grace through the sacraments. Hence why many condemned him.
Earlier Councils on Pelagianism
Pelagius’ ideas began spreading in the early 5th century. But a series of councils starting in 416 condemned his teachings:
– Council of Diospolis (416) – acquitted Pelagius but condemned his ally Caelestius
– Council of Carthage (418) – denounced Pelagianism and affirmed original sin and grace
– Council of Rome (418) – Pope Zosimus condemned Pelagius and Caelestius as heretics
So the Council of Carthage in 419 upheld and expanded on these prior condemnations of Pelagianism, aiming to suppress this resilient heresy. The detailed canons issued at Carthage entrenched anti-Pelagian orthodoxy.
Debates Over the Biblical Canon
The Council of Carthage played an important role in defining the canon of Scripture, building on earlier councils.
Previous Canonical Lists
Well before Carthage, church leaders had weighed in on what books were authoritative for Christians. Examples:
– 367 Easter Letter of Athanasius – 27 NT books same as today
– 382 Council of Rome – canon affirmed by Pope Damasus I
– 397 Council of Carthage – Augustine’s view of canon approved
So consensus was emerging, but some friction remained over a few books.
Debated Books
The most debated books were:
– Hebrews: Author unknown; was it apostolic?
– James: Emphasis on works over faith troubled some.
– 2 Peter: Stylistically different from 1 Peter; authorship questioned.
– Revelation: Wild apocalyptic visions; used by heretical groups.
There were also disagreements over the Old Testament apocrypha (Deuterocanonical books).
Carthage’s Canon
The Council of Carthage definitively settled the canon for the Western church by ratifying the list of 27 NT books we know today. It also affirmed the apocryphal books as Scripture despite some opposition.
This canon prevailed for over 1000 years until the Reformation, when Protestants rejected the apocrypha. So Carthage’s canon remains authoritative for Catholic and Orthodox churches. It played a key role in establishing universal agreement on the NT.
Regulations and Disciplinary Measures
In addition to doctrinal and canonical definitions, the Council of Carthage also passed important regulations dealing with church administration, conduct, and discipline.
Ordination and Baptism
Several canons relate to ordination of clergy and administration of baptism:
– Clergy should be ordained by their own bishop, not foreign bishops.
– Churches should have literate clergy to administer baptism properly.
– Only ordained clergy can anoint the baptized.
– Proper baptismal formula should be used.
– Heretical sects’ baptism is invalid; converts must be baptized as Christians.
Marriage and Sexuality
The Council prohibited:
– Marriage between uncle and niece.
– Having 2 wives (bigamy).
– Re-baptism.
– Continence by married clergy without mutual consent.
Church Discipline Cases
The Council responded to appeals from North African clergy punished at prior councils. After investigating, they rejected most appeals, indicating firmness in enforcing discipline.
For example, Bishop Apiarius of Sicca, accused of various offenses across several councils, ultimately had his appeals rejected at Carthage.
Significance of the Regulations
These rules and cases show the Council strengthening uniformity in administering sacraments and discipline. This bolstered episcopal authority and set standards for clerical morality expected to be enforced province-wide. The Council wanted to prevent laxity and maintain purity in the North African church.
Attendance and Authority
The Council of Carthage had broad attendance from across North Africa, giving it representative authority. But the presence and approval of the papal legates also connected it directly to the Roman Pope.
Who Attended
The Council was attended by 217 or 218 bishops from all the provinces of North Africa (Tripoli, Byzacena, Mauritania, Numidia, Proconsular Africa).
Prominent leaders present included Aurelius, bishop of Carthage, and Augustine, bishop of Hippo and the major theologian of the time.
Papal Legates
Pope Zosimus sent 2 legates (representatives), Roman priests Faustinus and Philippus. Their presence and approval gave the Council the Pope’s imprimatur.
Authority and Approval
The Council claimed authority as a representative body of African bishops. But significantly, the legates’ presence meant the Pope himself authorized its proceedings. This lent it broader authority.
After the Council, Pope Zosimus issued letters praising its proceedings and affirming its conclusions. So unlike earlier local councils, Carthage gained universal jurisdiction.
Effects on Later Christianity
The Council of Carthage impacted Christianity for many centuries after in numerous ways:
Doctrine and Practice
– It entrenched anti-Pelagian stances into Western theology for over a millennium. These became pillars like original sin and salvation by grace.
– It helped standardize rituals like baptism and ordination across regional churches through its regulations.
Church Governance
– It set a model of bishops gathering periodically to debate issues collegially under the umbrella of papal authority.
– It set a precedent for broader councils ratifying the decisions of local councils.
Biblical Canon
– It fixed the NT canon for over 1000 years in the West. Protestants later modified this canon, but we inherit Carthage’s NT list.
– The affirmation of the apocrypha and broad OT canon impacted theology and worship practices for medieval Catholicism by validating these books.
Unity and Orthodoxy
– The Council strengthened ties across North African churches under centralized authority.
– Its emphatic condemnation of Pelagianism marginalized this heresy, limiting its spread.
– It promoted unity through doctrinal, ecclesial, and canonical definition in contrast to schismatic tendencies of the day.
So in many respects, the Council of Carthage set the stage for centuries of Western Christianity. It helped restrain heresy, settle key issues still affecting Christians today, and model approaches to maintaining unity across the diversity of the Church.