God’s help were maintained, …”7 Summarizing the situation existent up to the time of Pelagius, Kelly states: The preceding pages (344–357) while revealing the firm hold which fourth-century Christians had on the truth of man’s fallen condition and consequent need of divine help, have also brought to light the persistence, side by side with it of a dogged belief in free will and responsibility. These two sets of ideas were not necessarily irreconcilable, but a conflict was unavoidable unless their