Ranko Watanabe: The Improvement of Concupiscence in This Life with Reference to Augustine

As is well known, Julian insisted that concupiscence should be the nature of human beings and is naturally good in and of itself. However, Augustine claims that it is bad in this life since, owing to the Fall of Man, through it, original sin is successively transmitted from parents to children and future generations. Accordingly, Christian married couples absolutely require the remission of Christ through the sacrament of marriage. Through it, they can express the “evil” of concupiscence in a good way. Herein, concupiscence seems to remain “evil” in this life. However, would not the condition of concupiscence, as expressed by the reality of a life of sincere faith, be improved by the grace of God? While Augustine insists that human beings cannot become perfect, the “evil” of concupiscence remains within man throughout his life even with grace present. Yet, he also says that the condition of concupiscence can be improved gradually in this life. Through the manifestation of grace in this life, man not only has an aspect of remission of sins but also the possibility of practical improvement over sins. In this paper, this will be made clear thorough reference to his writings on the Pelagian controversy (De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio.,De Correptione et Gratia.,Contra Julianum., and so on.).