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Key Doctrines

Synergism

The view that salvation involves a real cooperation between God's grace and the human will's free response.

Not To Be Confused With

Christian synergism (grace enables and the freed will cooperates) is NOT Pelagianism (the unaided will initiates). The line is whether grace is primary and enabling — which orthodox synergists affirm — or merely a helper to a naturally able will, which is the heresy.

From syn (together) + ergon (work). Held in various forms by Arminian, Wesleyan, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions: God's prevenient grace frees the will, which then truly cooperates. Monergists counter that this makes the decisive difference human; synergists answer that a freed, responsible response is exactly what grace produces.

Related Terms

Related Word Studies

Synergism — Definition | Theologos Media