Index Page for Responses to Ken Wilson's "Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to 'Non-Free Free Will'"

Dr. Kenneth M. Wilson wrote a book (2018), which is apparently an edition of a doctoral thesis he defended at Oxford (2012).  The book, published by the respected publisher Mohr Siebeck as part of the reputable series, Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum (vol. 111), has a number of issues.  Among the issues are the title: Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to "Non-Free Free Will," which has been abbreviated to "Augustine's Conversion" for the spine of the book.

Others have been responding for longer than I have.  My own responses so far have focused on Section A of Chapter 3 of the book, in a section on Origen.  The format of the following index is to link the Youtube version of the review episode, together with a brief description of the discussed matter.  After that I have identified the Origen source material discussed in the episode, for those interested in Origen studies.

Episode 1 - First Three Paragraphs (p. 65)

Princ., Pref. 5; cf. 1.6.2

Episode 2 - Next Few Paragraphs (pp. 65-66)

P. Arch. 3.1.6

P. Arch. 3.1.7; cf. 3.1.10

Philoc. 27.10-12

Episode 3 - Philocalia Discussion (p. 66)

Somewhat tangential to the discussion, this is an episode just discussing the work, Philocalia, which was composed by others repurposing Origen's work.

Episode 4 - "Saturates His Writings"? (p. 66)

Hom. Jer.20.2

Philoc. 27.2

De Princ.2.9.6-7

Episode 5 - "Grace as Merit"? (p. 66)

Comm. Rom. 3.9

P. Arch. 3.1.12; Cels. 6.68

Episode 6 - "Grace vs. Rewards" (p. 66)

Comm. Rom. 4.4-5

Episode 7 - "Higher Honor and Rewards" (p. 66)

Comm. Rom. 8.7.4; 8.7.7

Exhort. 14

Episode 8 - "Unilateral Divine Infusion" (p. 66)

P. Arch. 3.1.5 

Episode 9 - "Scheck concludes without warrant ... Quite to the Contrary" (pp. 66-67)

Scheck (2001), 31 (we considered 30-32)

Comm. Rom. 4.5.3

Comm. Rom. 4.5.1

von Harnack (1886; repr., 1990), 551, fnt. 2

Harnack Material, Lehrbuch der Dogmengeschichte, Bd.1, Die Zeit der Alten Kirche (English version) (1886 German version)

Episode 10 - "Contra heretics claiming God directly influences minds or 'wills,' Origen ..."

First Principles, Book Three, Chapter 1 (From Latin) (From Greek)

P. Arch. 3.1.16; cf. 3.1.21 on 2 Tim 2.20

P. Arch 3.1.17

P. Arch 3.1.21 

Episode 11 - "In context, Origen refutes the idea that foreknowledge is a causative ..." (pp. 67-68)

Cels. 6.45

Cels. 2.20

Philoc. 23.7  (Commentary III on Genesis, II, 3; but Philoc. 23.12 and following are from Cels. 2) (Sources of the Philocalia) (via Archive.org)

Episode 12 - "Origen also corrects an error in the prevailing pagan and heretical beliefs ..." (p. 68)

Princ. 3.2.3

P. Arch. 3.1.14 (From Latin) (From Greek)

Philoc. 25.2

Episode 13 - "Concurring with prior Christian authors ..." (p. 68)

O'Leary (2004), 115 (Alternative Online edition); cf. Cels. 6.55. (Internal Citations: ComMt 10.11; PArch 3.3.5; Philoc. 23; CCel 3.66-69 (Ch. 66, Ch. 67, Ch. 68, Ch. 69)

McIntire (2005), vol.5, 3206-3209  (Online edition)

Episode 14 - "Heretics had proof texted Phil 2.13 ..." (p. 69)

P. Arch.3.1.20 (Latin here)

P. Arch.3.1.21 (Latin here) (Previously Discussed in Episode 10)

P. Arch.3.1.18 (Latin here)

Planned Material

Episode 15 - "Foreknowledge of human choice results in predestination. ..." (p. 69)

Comm. Rom.7.8.6

Comm. Rom.7.8.2-3

Comm. Rom.7.8.7

Comm. Ev. Jo.6.59

Comm. Rom.3.8.13

Comm. Rom.4.11.1

Cels.5.16

Comm. Rom.8.11.5

Comm. Rom.7.16.8

Alviar (1993), 39 -- Alviar, J. Jose Klesis: The Theology of the Christian Vocation according to Origen. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1993.

Episode X - Tangent Episode for Discussion of Material Relied upon by Harnack (discussed in Episode 9) in the section relied on by Wilson

In Ezech. hom. I., c. II

Orig. in Matth. series 69, Lomm. IV

in Rom. IV. 5, Lomm. VI 

in Rom. IX. 3, Lomm. VII

Origen on the Gift of Faith

Commentary on the Gospel According to John, Books 13-32, Book 13 (at John 4:42), section 354  trans. Ronald E. Heine, p. 144, Catholic University of America Press (1993) (Based on Greek)

For this reason, those who walk by sight, as it were, would be said to be engaged in those gifts which come first, "the word of wisdom" given by the Spirit of God, and the "word of knowledge according to the same Spirit." Those who walk by faith, on the other hand, are inferior to the former in rank, although faith is a gift according to the saying, "And to another, faith in the same Spirit."

Commentary on the Gospel According to John, Books 13-32, Book 20 (at John 8:46), section 285 trans. Ronald E. Heine, p. 264, Catholic University of America Press (1993) (Based on Greek)

But when we contemplate what believing is in the proper sense, insofar as "everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God," and when we perceive how far short we fall of believing in this manner, let us respond as follows, exhorting the Physician of the eyes of soul by his wisdom and beneficence to do everything to uncover our eyes, which are still covered by the shame we feel because of evil, according to what is said somewhere, "Our shame has covered us." For he will listen to us when we confess the reasons we do not yet believe, and help us as those who are sick and in need of a physician, and work with us that we receive the gift of believing, which is placed third in Paul's catalogue of gifts, after the word of wisdom and word of understanding, to which he adds, "To another, faith in the same Spirit." He says of this gift also in other passages, "For it has been given to you by God not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him." 

Origen, Homilies on Luke, Fragments on Luke, Fragment 232 (on Luke 19:26), trans. Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J., p. 220, Catholic University of America Press (1996) (N.B. "the Greek fragments are not always trustworthy.  Most of them come from catenae ... The editors of the catenae often shortened, condensed, or rearranged the passages from the Fathers that they used." p. xxxvi) 

The Savior says, "He who has a virtue as the fruit of his labors and sweat also receives something more from God, just as the one who has the faith that we can muster will be given the gift of faith. And simply, if someone has one of those things that come to be by effort, and that are bettered by attention and care, God will give what is lacking. But, the one who is useless and does not pass the Word on to many will be deprived of what he had, and punished.