Luis de Molina’s Doctrine of Predestination and the Controversy with the Dominicans of Salamanca in the Second Half of the 16th Century

Abstract

This article analyses the doctrine of predestination in the work Concordia liberii ar-bitrii cum gratiae donis, divina praescientia, providentia, praedestinatione et reprobatione (1588) by the Jesuit Luis de Molina (1535-1600) and examines the criticism aimed at this doctrine by the Dominicans of Salamanca, contained in the work Apologia fratrum praedicatorum in provintia hispaniae professorum sacrae theologiae, adversus quasdam novas assertiones cuiusdam Doctoris Ludovici Molinae (1595), coordinated by Domingo Báñez (1528-1604). Within the analysis of Molina’s doctrine of predestination, we analyze the author’s positions on providence, foreknowledge, the efficacy of God’s assistance and predestination as a prediction of merits and as an act of divine will. We conclude our paper by discussing the main criticisms addressed to Molina’s doctrine by Báñez and the Dominicans of Salamanca.