Fulgentius of Ruspe and the Schematisation of Augustine’s Soteriological Terminology

In scholarship the definition of grace as prevenient (praeueniens) and succeeding (subsequens) is regarded as one main characterisation of Augustine’s soteriology. However, Augustine himself only rudimentarily combined grace with these verbs of motion. The author argues that it was the achievement of Fulgentius of Ruspe to schematise the Augustinian soteriology for the first time, especially, within his work De ueritate praedestinationis et gratiae (ca. 523). Thereby, the bishop of Ruspe applied the verbs praeuenire and subsequi to denominate different aspects of the operation of divine grace. Fulgentius emphasised the necessity and priority of divine grace in relation to faith and perseverance. Moreover, he regarded this operation of grace embedded within God’s eternal and unfailing predestination.