Augustine and His Impact on Western Theology
Western Christianity was profoundly influenced by Augustine, regarded as a pivotal figure in theological history. His significant contributions to doctrines and philosophical ideas have shaped Western thought for centuries. Delve into Augustine's life, key themes in his works, and critical issues he tackled to understand his lasting influence on Western theology.
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Lecture 23: Augustine and Confessions Dr. Ann T. Orlando 19 November 2019 1
Outline Historical background Brief sketch of his life Some Key Themes in Augustine On Christian Doctrine Confessions
Importance of Augustine to Western Theology Cannot Be Overstated For Western Christianity, he is the most important theologian from this period Arguably the most important theologian from any period Every serious Western theologian after Augustine must in some way deal with Augustine Augustine was the standard for doctrinal truth and theological method throughout the Middle Ages Anselm on Trinity Aquinas (13th C) runs into trouble because He seems to abandon Augustine s theological method (Neoplatonism) for Aristotle Open any page of ST and see number of references to Augustine Renaissance begins when Petrarch reads Confessions Luther and Calvin claim Augustine for themselves in opposition to Scholasticism Augustine is patron saint of Jansenists, Augustinus Enlightenment rejection of Christianity is specifically a rejection of Augustine But some of his philosophical efforts still command the attention of contemporary philosophers: Wittgenstein (language), Heidegger (memory), Derrida (structuralism/deconstruction), Camus and Hick (evil), Hawking (time) and many others Recent new translations of and popular interest in Augustine: New City Press; J.J. O Donnell, Garry Wills Pope Benedict XVI has defined himself, and is often referred to as, an Augustinian theologian; Five General Audience Talks on Augustine
Critical and Defining Issues for Augustine Happiness Theodicy Relation between human nature and God s grace Trinity Epistemology Theories of Language Primacy of love; Man as a social being who should be completely motivated by properly ordered loves Love and do whatever you will Importance of friendship Heresies that Augustine argued against Arianism Donatism Manichaeism Pelagianism
Brief Biographical Sketch Born near Carthage in 354 to a devoutly Catholic mother and worldly father In youth leads a life of pleasure searching for happiness Investigates and is attracted to Manichaeism Becomes enamored with Platonism (Plotinus) Conversion to Catholic Christianity Ordained priest 391, bishop of Hippo 395 Died on 28 August 430 Peter Brown s book Augustine of Hippo remains the most important biography of Augustine in English Be sure to get the New Edition with Epilogue Discusses discovery of 12 previously unstudied letters and sermons of Augustine (396-404)
Augustines Works Augustine s friend and biographer, Possidius, catalogued Augustine's works after his death and observed that no one would be able to read them all Among the vitally important works which every Catholic theologian should read On Free Will Confessions On the Trinity City of God On Christian Teaching Retractions concerning On Free Will Nearly innumerable letters, treatises, homilies, commentaries Retractions (Reconsiderations)
Likely Occasion for Writing On Christian Teaching (De Doctrina Christiana, DDC) Given Augustine s fame as an orator, other bishops in the region asked him for pointers to improve their homilies, c 400 But Augustine refuses to suggest rhetorical tricks for use in homilies Should be based on preaching the truth of Scripture (Books I-III) Only have the truth of Scripture is mastered, should the homilist consider the style of his sermon, and the style should always be in service of preaching the truth (Book IV)
DDC Book I: Things and Properly Ordered Loves Begins with the distinction between things and signs Consider things (res) first Some are meant to be used, others enjoyed, still others both used and enjoyed Things which we enjoy makes us happy; things which we use are tools we use to reach what the things that make us happy Enjoyment consists to clinging to a thing lovingly for its own sake If we enjoy (love) things that are meant to be used, we deceive ourselves The things to be enjoyed are the Trinity But there is no way to speak adequately about the Trinity Our minds must be purified to enjoy the truth of the unchanging, living God But we can only do this because Wisdom (the Word) herself became mortal Christ the physician to purify us Since we are made in God s image, are we to be used or enjoyed We are to love ourselves, not for our own sake, but as something to be used toward the love (enjoyment) of God To live a holy life, we must be able to evaluate things correctly, and so understand the right ordering of things to be loved We are to love everyone equally But we can not help (be used by) or be helped (use) all equally God uses us for our benefit When we enjoy a human being in God, we are really loving God Anyone who thinks they have understood Scripture but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding it (I.xxxvi)
On Christian Teaching (Cont.) Book II Theory of signs To properly read Scripture, must make spiritual ascent ; seven stages of ascent List of OT and NT canon of Scripture Use Scripture to interpret Scripture Problems of translating into Latin; preachers should know Greek and Hebrew The authority of the Septuagint is supreme (II.xv) Importance of knowing history, geography, astronomy, mathematics and logic in studying Scripture Book III By love I mean the impulse of one s mind to enjoy God on his own account and to enjoy oneself and one s neighbor on account of God; and by lust I mean the impulse of one s mind to enjoy oneself and one s neighbor and any corporeal thing not on account of God. (III.x) All deeds of OT are to be interpreted figuratively as well as literally Seven rules of Tyconius
On Christian Teaching (Cont) Book IV Rhetoric can be used to convince people of falsehood; Christian preacher should first of all be concerned to preach the truth By reading and studying Christian literature outside of canon, preacher can learn how to preach The wisdom of what a person says is in direct proportion to his progress in learning the holy Scriptures and I am not speaking of intensive reading or memorization, but real understanding and careful investigation of their meaning. (IV.v) Before preaching, the preacher should lift his soul to God The benefit of preaching is effected by God Styles of preaching
What does Confession (confessio) mean Confessio: both accusation of oneself and praise for God Sermon 67.2 Sermon 29B (Dolbeau 8; Mainz 21) Part of recently discovered sermons in Carthusian monastery in Mainz Analyzed by Francois Dolbeau Written the same time Augustine was writing Confessions Preached at vigil of Pentecost on Ps 118:1, Confess to the Lord, since He is good Exposition on two different meanings of confessio 11
Introduction to Confessions Written shortly after Augustine was named bishop of Hippo (395-400) Written at the request of his friend Paulinus of Nola; written 11 years after his baptism It is Augustine the bishop reflecting in middle age on events in his youth; It is not telling the story of his youth; it is a reflection May have been written as a defense against charge that Augustine was still a Manichean Became an instant best seller It is first and foremost a prayer, not an autobiography; there should be an AMEN at end of Book XIII 12
Structure Division of 13 Books is Augustine s division Usually considered in two parts: Augustine s past (I-IX) Augustine's present (X-XIII) NB: The last 4 books (Part 2) are an integral part of the whole In spite of the fact that some editors either abbreviate them or leave them out altogether Which we will NOT do; Books X-XIII will be studied with equal vigor in this class 13
Structure of Part 1: Augustines Past Can be viewed as a chiasm Book I: From God; birth and relationship of infant with mother Book II: Bondage of Flesh Book III: Slavery of eyes and mind; problem of evil Book IV Ambition of World Book V Encounter with Faustus, Manichaeism, philosophy; moving from Carthage to Rome Book VI: Recognition of emptiness of world s ambition Book VII: Freedom of mind; resolution of problem of evil Book VIII: Liberation from bondage of flesh Book IX: Relation to Monica, her death, return to God 14
Structure of Part 2: Augustines Present Book X: Augustine the Bishop at the end of his reflection on his youth, meditates on Memory and knowledge Sin Book XI: Augustine the Bishop meditates on In the beginning What is Time Book XII: Augustine the Bishop meditates on God created the heavens and the earth How to interpret Scripture and authorial intent Book XIII: Augustine the Bishop meditates on Trinity Church NB: Augustine uses the word confessions more often in these last four than the previous nine books 15
But the entire work is one grand prayer I.i (1) Our heart is restless until it rests in you In seeking him they will find him, and in finding they will praise him. Lord I would seek you, calling upon you and calling upon you is an act of believing in you. It is your gift to me. You breathe it into me by the humanity of your Son XIII.xxxvii (52) There also you will rest in us, just as now you work in us XIII.xxxviii (53) Only you can be asked, only you can be begged, only on your door can we knock. Yes, indeed, that is how it is received, how it is found, how the door is opened. AMEN 16
How We Will Read The Confessions Class discussion for entire period of four classes You must select a topic by next class (Thurs) Prepare a discussion on your topic and hand in short paper each class Tues, Dec 3: Books I-IV Thurs., Dec 5: Books V VIII Tues, Dec 10: Books IX - X Thurs., Dec. 12: Books XI - XIII You MUST get these papers done on time for the assigned class with the assigned topic. 17
Topics Questions (2) Philosophy, Epistemology (2) Evil and Sin (2) Law and Justice (2) Friendship and love (3) Scripture (2) Latin ??? (1) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 18
Augustines Reflection on Confessions confessionum mearum libri tredecim et de malis et de bonis meis deum laudant iustum et bonum atque in eum excitant humanum intellectum et affectum. interim quod ad me attinet, hoc in me egerunt cum scriberentur et agunt cum leguntur. Revisions 2.6.1 The 13 books of my confession, of both my bad and good, praise the just and good God, and moreover they excite the human intellect and affection towards Him. As for what pertains to me, they did this in me when they were written, and they do this when they are read. 19
Assignments Tolle, lege Topic selection by Thursday, Nov 21 ONLY two allowable translations: Chadwick, Oxford University Press Boulding, New City Press (also Ignatius Press Critical Edition) Secondary Reading: EITHER Chadwick Augustine in Early Christian Literature, p 328-341 OR Introduction by Chadwick in text OR Brown Augustine of Hippo, Chapter 16 For even more detail, JJ O Donnell s three volume commentary on Latin (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992) on the Confessions is available online at http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/conf/ 20
