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Examined Doctrine

John Duns Scotus on Perseverance & eternal security

C. 1266 – 1308 · SCHOLASTIC
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTAFFIRMS°
STANCE

Perseverance is a distinct gift, not given to all the regenerate

THE POSITION

Perseverance as a distinct gift rather than something guaranteed to everyone in a state of grace.

WHY THERE IS NO QUOTATIONNo quotations. Scotus died in 1308 and the Latin is public domain, but the usable English translations are modern and in copyright, so these positions are paraphrased from standard scholarly accounts rather than reproduced.

2 OTHERS HOLD THIS

AquinasAugustine
No — the genuinely saved will certainly persevereVODDIE BAUCHAM · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · CHARLES GRANDISON FINNEY · BILLY GRAHAM · JOSH HOWERTON · TIM KELLER · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · JOHN MACARTHUR · GAVIN ORTLUND · JOHN OWEN · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · GEORGE WHITEFIELD · ZWINGLI
Yes — real apostasy is possibleCHRYSOSTOM · M. HEISER · LUTHER · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · WESLEY
See all 30 figures on perseverance & eternal security →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Franciscan, the Subtle Doctor. Argued for the univocity of being and for a will free in its own right rather than moved by the intellect's judgment — the point where the Franciscan schools part from Aquinas.

READ ACROSS 18 LOCI, NONE QUOTED
Everything John Duns Scotus holds →
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"John Duns Scotus on Perseverance & eternal security", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/scotus/perseverance (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/scotus/perseverance).

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