¹ To my lord, most devoted, and to my brother Lucidus, a presbyter, whom I venerate and revere with special affection, Faustus sends greetings.

² Great is the love that prefers, by the grace and assistance of God, to heal the error of a brother who is somewhat lacking in caution, rather than—as the highest bishops contemplate—suspend him from unity. How can I express my thoughts on this matter to you in writing, as you wish, in full accord with your mind, when even in person, through much gentle and humble conversation, I have never been able to draw you to the path of truth?

³ When speaking, therefore, of God’s grace and human obedience, we must in every way hold firmly to this: that we neither lean too far to the left nor press too insistently to the right, but rather walk the royal road. Yet I was astonished that your reverence said no one under religious profession has ever written or preached anything against the Catholic faith. For many have believed that their numerous and profane errors should be committed to writing, even while they gloried in the name of Christ.

⁴ Thus, I shall briefly say—inasmuch as I can speak to you from afar—what you ought to believe in harmony with the Catholic Church: that you must always join the work of the baptized servant with the grace of the Lord and detest, along with the doctrine of Pelagius, anyone who asserts predestination while excluding human effort.

⁵ Anathema, therefore, to anyone who, among the other impieties of Pelagius, has presumed—deserving condemnation—to argue that a person is born without sin and can be saved by effort alone, and who has believed that one can be freed without the grace of God.

⁶ Likewise, anathema to anyone who asserts that a person who has been solemnly baptized with a faithful confession, professing the Catholic faith, but later falls through the various pleasures and temptations of this world, has perished in Adam and in original sin.

⁷ Likewise, anathema to anyone who says that a person is condemned to death from the beginning by God’s foreknowledge.

⁸ Likewise, anathema to anyone who says that the one who perished did not receive what was necessary to be saved—that is, in the case of one who was baptized or a pagan of responsible age who was able to believe but refused to do so.

⁹ Likewise, anathema to him who says that a vessel made for dishonour cannot rise to become a vessel for honour.

¹⁰ Likewise, anathema to him who says that Christ did not die for all, or that He does not will all men to be saved.

¹¹ But when you come to us in the name of Christ, or when you have been summoned by the holy priests, then, if the Lord wills, we will present, in their proper places, the testimonies by which both what is Catholic may be made manifest and what is contrary to the Catholic faith may be refuted.

¹² For we, enlightened by Christ, confidently and truthfully affirm that he who perishes through his own fault could have been saved by grace—if he had not refused the obedience of labour as a servant of grace. Likewise, we affirm that he who, through grace, reaches the goal of good completion by obedient service could also have fallen through negligence and perished through his own fault.

¹³ Therefore, walking the middle path under the guidance of Christ, we uphold both grace—without which we are nothing—and the labour of dutiful service. Yet we completely reject any arrogance or presumption regarding our labour, so that, striving with all our strength lest grace be rendered void in us, we may declare that whatever we receive from the hand of the Lord is a gift, not a reward. We recognize that the fruit of our labour pertains to duty, not merit, saying with the evangelist: “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”.

¹⁴ Let your unity respond, whether it accepts or rejects what has been briefly stated here due to the brevity of this letter, when you return your reply. However, whoever does not follow this measure of truth—with grace preceding and effort rising up—will be worthy of being barred from the sacred thresholds.

¹⁵ Nevertheless, I, holding fast to your unwavering goodness with the full embrace of sincere kindness, desire that you remain within the bosom of Mother Church, rejecting this error. If it is quickly renounced, it will appear to have been ignorance; but if it is obstinately defended, it will be regarded as blasphemy.

¹⁶ For we would cast a grave reproach upon our Creator if we were to say that He refused to grant the possibility of attaining salvation to one who has perished—at least to one who had already reached the capacity for free will—since we cannot at all deny that He will condemn the transgressor of His command in the judgment of His justice.

¹⁷ For if one is not accountable for what he has received, I do not see how he could be guilty for what he has lost. Thus, in sinning against God—whose grace we affirm so carelessly at first—we would in the end be found to be attacking His justice.

¹⁸ I am keeping a copy of this letter with me in the assembly of the holy bishops so that, if necessary, it may be produced. If your fraternity considers it appropriate to accept, then either return it promptly with your own signature or respond in a subsequent letter stating clearly that you reject it. But if you refuse to send it back with your signature, as I have said, your very silence will prove that you still persist in error. Consequently, you will leave me no choice but to present your case publicly before the assemblies. Therefore, respond to what I have written: do you acknowledge or reject these things, without evasions?

¹⁹ Auxanius, bishop in the name of Christ, I have read this.
Faustus, I have read the copy of my letter.
Paulus, bishop in the name of Christ, I have read this.
Eutropius, bishop in the name of Christ.
Pragmatius, bishop under the sign of Christ.
Patiens, bishop in Christ.
Eufronius, I have read this and marveled at its holy fullness.
Megethius, bishop, I have read this.
Claudius, bishop in the name of Christ, I have read this.
Leucadius, bishop in the name of Christ, I have read this.
Julianus, bishop in the name of Christ.
Lucidus, presbyter.

²⁰ Additionally, in another hand:
Faustus, I have read the copy of my letter and have signed it.