Gottschalk of Orbais (also spelled Godescalc) was a medieval monk who taught that God’s predestination is twofold. Gottschalk believed that before ages the Creator predestined some men to salvation and others to hell. Reaction of his former abbot Rabanus Maurus and his metropolitan Hincmar of Reims started the 9th century predestination controversy, which was made even more acute by the intervention of John Scot Erigena. Though many defended Gottschalk’s thoroughly Augustinian theology, Gottschalk was imprisoned at the monastery of Hautvilliers where he later died having several times refused to renounce his views.
Gottschalk’s theological works in English translation by Victor Genke and Francis X. Gumerlock appeared in print in 2010 as the 47th volume of Marquette University Press Mediaeval Philosophical Texts in Translation series. The original Latin texts are available on this webpage in the section Primary Sources below. |
