Monergism

Monergism (from μόνος, sole, and ἔργον, work) is a term used to designate the doctrine that in regeneration there is but one efficient agent, viz. the Holy Spirit. It is held by monergists that "the will of sinful man has not the least inclination towards holiness, nor any power to act in a holy manner, until it has been acted upon by divine grace; and therefore it cannot be said with strictness to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, since it acts in conversion only after it is quickened by the Holy Spirit." The doctrine is opposed to synergism, which teaches that there are two efficient agents in regeneration — the human soul and the divine Spirit cooperating together, a theory which accordingly holds that the soul has not lost all inclination towards holiness, nor all power to seek for it under the influence of ordinary motives. SEE SYNERGISM.