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Examined Doctrine

Jacobus Arminius on Original sin & the human will

1560 – 1609 · ARMINIAN
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTAFFIRMS°
STANCE

Depraved, but prevenient grace restores ability to respond

THE POSITION

Total depravity is fully affirmed — Arminius is often misread here. His move is that prevenient grace, given to all, restores enough ability that a person can respond or refuse.

SCRIPTURE
JOHN 12:32 · BSB

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”

2 OTHERS HOLD THIS

Philip MelanchthonWesley
Will in bondage; needs sovereign grace to be freedAUGUSTINE · VODDIE BAUCHAM · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · M. HEISER · JOSH HOWERTON · TIM KELLER · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · LUTHER · JOHN MACARTHUR · JOHN OWEN · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · ZWINGLI
Nature wounded but not destroyed; grace perfects itAQUINAS · ATHANASIUS · EPHESUS
Free will substantially intact; God and man cooperateBASIL THE GREAT · CHRYSOSTOM · IRENAEUS
See all 27 figures on original sin & the human will →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Dutch Reformed pastor whose questioning of unconditional election produced the Remonstrance and, in reply, the Synod of Dort. Often caricatured; he affirmed total depravity.

2 OF 9 POSITIONS QUOTED
Everything Jacobus Arminius holds →
Cite this page

"Jacobus Arminius on Original sin & the human will", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/arminius/original-sin (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/arminius/original-sin).

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