Perseverance of the saints
- S13.1 Regenerate can fall; final perseverance cannot be known with certainty (high)
From the study it came from: Agree that grace comes first; diverge on predestination, where the fathers were divided among themselves.
Two separate measures, shown side by side; neither is combined with the other (confidence-weighted, out of 4; counts show how many of this doctrine's 1 questions each rests on). This doctrine is second-order (tier weight 2). How scoring works · Scripture and tradition · Glossary · Every score with its citation
Closeness to Scripture
Closeness to the fathers
Charts: closeness to the fathers by question, and timeline
- c. 415 Augustine S13.1
- c. 415 Augustine S13.1
- 1547 Trent VI Catholic
- 1577 Formula of Concord Lutheran
- 1646 Westminster Confession Presbyterian
- 1672 Confession of Dositheus Orthodox
S13 · Perseverance of the saints
Can a true believer finally fall away?
Tier: Second-order (scoring weight 2). How the tiers were set: theological triage. Site structure: structure.
Questions
- S13.1 Perseverance (was
salvation/S4)
Verdicts and trace
S13.1 · Perseverance
| Question | Verdict | Confidence | Reasoning | Key sources | Scripture (benchmark) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S13.1 | Regenerate can fall; final perseverance cannot be known with certainty | High (Augustine) | S13.1.1 · S13.1.3 weighing | augustine-sal-s3 · augustine-sal-s4 | S13.1.4: low-medium |
Post-750 development
Which of this doctrine’s questions each tradition stays closest to, or departs from. Each row links to the tradition’s notes.
| Tradition | Closest to the fathers on | Departs or sharpens on |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | S13.1 | — |
| Orthodox | — | — |
| Oriental Orthodox | S13.1 | — |
| Lutheran | S13.1 | — |
| Anglican | partly S13.1 | — |
| Presbyterian | — | S13.1 assurance of perseverance |
| Reformed Baptist | — | S13.1 |
| General Baptist | S13.1 | partly S13.1 |
| Anabaptist | S13.1 | — |
Origin
Plan, overall verdict and verification status of the former salvation category (shared with the other doctrines that came from it)
Salvation: grace, free will, predestination, perseverance
Method and conventions: docs/conventions.md. Reasoning: salvation reasoning.
1. Plan
Questions: S1 grace and the beginning of faith; S2 free will; S3 predestination; S4 perseverance and assurance. The ground and form of justification are covered in justification and not repeated here. Sources: Justin, 1 Apol. 43; Irenaeus AH IV.37; Origen, De Principiis III.1; Cassian, Conf. 13; Augustine, Predestination of the Saints, Gift of Perseverance, Rebuke and Grace; Orange 529. Planned but not yet read: Prosper, Call of All Nations; Chrysostom on Rom 9; John of Damascus II.25–30; Gottschalk (post-750). Scripture: Rom 8–9; Eph 1–2; John 6, 10; Phil 1:6, 29; Heb 6:4–6; 1 Tim 2:4.
2. Verdicts and trace
Weighed under the source-proximity principle: Scripture first, then the father tiers T1–T4. Verdict changes are listed in docs/proximity-changes.md.
3. Post-750 development
4. Overall verdict
Catholic closest overall (Orange plus Trent canons 4 and 15–17 follow Augustine closely on S4). Lutheran is close on S1, S3 and S4. Orthodox is closest on S2 and the earlier S3 line. Presbyterian departs on S4 and on double predestination. Confidence: medium. S3 is split, and the Greek fathers are thinly verified.
5. Verification status
- Verified: Justin, Irenaeus, Cassian, Augustine (3 works), Orange c. 5, Trent VI cc. 4 and 15–17, Dositheus 3, FC SD XI.8, WCF III.3 and XVII.1.
- To verify: Origen III.1 detail and Comm. Rom. 8:29; the conclusion of Orange; Prosper; Chrysostom on Rom 9; John of Damascus II; Luther, Bondage of the Will; FC on the regenerate falling away; LSB English.