Luis de Molina's Concordia of Free Will (Parts 2 and 3)

Luis de Molina’s Concordia liberi arbitrii, first published in 1588, stands as a cornerstone of 16th-century theology and philosophy, born amidst the vibrant intellectual currents of Iberian scholasticism and the Catholic response to the Reformation. This seminal work tackles the profound challenge of reconciling human free will with divine grace, foreknowledge, providence, predestination, and reprobation, sparking the intense De Auxiliis controversy within the Catholic Church.

This volume presents Parts 2 and 3 of the Concordia, delving into two pivotal aspects of Molina’s theological framework. Part 2: On God’s General Concurrence explores how God cooperates with secondary causes, including human free will, in all natural actions and effects. Molina argues that God’s general concurrence is an immediate, simultaneous influence alongside secondary causes, not a prior movement of those causes, preserving human freedom while affirming divine causation. He meticulously refutes opposing views, such as those of Durandus and Gabriel, and clarifies that only free will, not God, is the cause of sin, engaging deeply with Thomas Aquinas and scriptural evidence.

Part 3: On Assistance of Divine Grace examines the role of divine grace in enabling supernatural acts, such as faith, hope, love, and repentance, which are essential for justification. Molina distinguishes between general concurrence for natural acts and the particular assistance of prevenient grace for supernatural ones, emphasizing that grace does not override free will but cooperates with it. Drawing on the Council of Trent and patristic sources, he addresses complex questions about justification, rejecting interpretations that risk undermining human freedom or divine mercy.

This translation, crafted for clarity while preserving Molina’s intricate arguments, offers a vital window into his innovative concepts, including simultaneous concurrence and scientia media (middle knowledge), which seek to harmonize human liberty with divine sovereignty. Essential for scholars and theologians, this volume illuminates one of Christianity’s most enduring debates.