Reasoning steps: Perseverance of the saints

Verdicts: S13 · Perseverance of the saints. Shared notes and post-750 development: salvation.

S13.1 (was salvation/S4): Perseverance and assurance

Step S13.1.1: Scripture

John 10:28–29; Phil 1:6; Rom 8:38–39 vs. Heb 6:4–6; 1 Cor 9:27; 10:12.

Step S13.1.2: Patristic evidence

augustine-sal-s3 (some regenerated do not persevere), augustine-sal-s4 (uncertain while alive).

Step S13.1.3: Weighing decision

Reading A: the truly regenerate can lose grace, and final perseverance is a gift that cannot be known with certainty. Reading B: all the regenerate persevere, and assurance of this is possible. A is chosen for the fathers. Even Augustine, the strongest predestinarian, separates regeneration from perseverance and denies certainty. B is a Presbyterian development.

• Confidence: High (for Augustine); medium (whole-patristic, few other witnesses verified)

Step S13.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

See the proximity tiers.

• Scripture (benchmark): Promises of preservation (John 10:28–29; Phil 1:6) alongside real warnings (Heb 6:4–6; 1 Cor 10:12); assurance is offered (1 John 5:13). (Scripture confidence: low-medium)
• Key sources by tier: Augustine (T3, w 0.6); Augustine (T3, w 0.6). Proximity factor: 0.6 (mean tier weight of 2 key source(s)).
• Assessment: The verdict rests on Augustine (T3). Scripture offers assurance (1 John 5:13) as well as warnings. The later Tridentine denial of ordinary assurance (canon 16) lacks biblical support, and so does any claim that assurance of final perseverance comes without the warnings. Verdict unchanged (it reports the fathers).