Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

Background North Africa North Africa Home of Perpetua and Felicity (Carthage) Home of Perpetua and Felicity (Carthage) Latin speaking (for the educated) Latin speaking (for the educated) Serious, rigorous in faith Serious, rigorous in faith But “backwaters” of Empire But “backwaters” of Empire Augustine Augustine Becomes the major Christian theologian of the West Becomes the major Christian theologian of the West

Augustine’s life Ambitious pagan father Patricius, pious Christian mother Monica Ambitious pagan father Patricius, pious Christian mother Monica Well-educated, career in rhetoric (law) Well-educated, career in rhetoric (law) Spent his youth “searching” Spent his youth “searching” For love: lived with a woman for 15 yrs, had a son For love: lived with a woman for 15 yrs, had a son For meaning: read philosophy, joined different religious groups For meaning: read philosophy, joined different religious groups For God: unsure about Christianity as a youth For God: unsure about Christianity as a youth Thought Bible was crude, simple Thought Bible was crude, simple Joined Manichees (dualists, like Gnostics) Joined Manichees (dualists, like Gnostics) Left, read Neo-platonist philosophy Left, read Neo-platonist philosophy This helped him return to Christianity in 387 This helped him return to Christianity in 387

Teaching Christianity Main idea: Life is about love Main idea: Life is about love People are created to love God and each other in God People are created to love God and each other in God Problem: they love the wrong things (money, success, happiness, sex, etc.) Problem: they love the wrong things (money, success, happiness, sex, etc.) Need to have human affections re-oriented Need to have human affections re-oriented By grace (gift) of God that changes the human heart By grace (gift) of God that changes the human heart Correlating idea: scripture is about love Correlating idea: scripture is about love Read Bible to understand how to love God and neighbor Read Bible to understand how to love God and neighbor Interpretations that do not build up love of God and neighbor are incorrect, harmful Interpretations that do not build up love of God and neighbor are incorrect, harmful

Book 1 Two main topics Two main topics Way to understand Bible (books 1-3) Way to understand Bible (books 1-3) Way to explain this to others (book 4) Way to explain this to others (book 4) Things vs. signs Things vs. signs Thing: a reality in itself Thing: a reality in itself Sign: points toward something else Sign: points toward something else All signs (like words) are things, too All signs (like words) are things, too But not all things are signs But not all things are signs Use vs. enjoyment Use vs. enjoyment Use: to get something else; move toward happiness Use: to get something else; move toward happiness Enjoyment: love for its own sake; makes happy Enjoyment: love for its own sake; makes happy

Love Metaphor: Life as a journey Metaphor: Life as a journey Basic problem of human existence: confusing these two, getting off-track, not getting to destination Basic problem of human existence: confusing these two, getting off-track, not getting to destination Enjoyment: for God (destination, home country) Enjoyment: for God (destination, home country) Unchanging, reliable ( ) Unchanging, reliable ( ) Use: for everything else (on the journey) Use: for everything else (on the journey) Changeable, can disappoint Changeable, can disappoint But what about people? Do we use them? But what about people? Do we use them? Christ is the “way” of return ( ff) Christ is the “way” of return ( ff) Companionship ( ); share enjoyment of God with another Companionship ( ); share enjoyment of God with another “use with delight” ( ) “use with delight” ( )

Biblical interpretation If your interpretation does not build up twin love of God and neighbor, you have not understood ( ) If your interpretation does not build up twin love of God and neighbor, you have not understood ( ) Interps that differ from author’s intent are OK IF they build up charity ( ) Interps that differ from author’s intent are OK IF they build up charity ( ) Not the best, but OK; like taking a more circuitous route to the destination Not the best, but OK; like taking a more circuitous route to the destination People who are perfect in charity do not need scriptures, except to teach (bk 4) People who are perfect in charity do not need scriptures, except to teach (bk 4)

For next time Read assigned sections of books 2-3 ONLY Read assigned sections of books 2-3 ONLY How does Augustine deal with ambiguous parts of scripture? How does Augustine deal with ambiguous parts of scripture? What knowledge (education) is needed to read scripture? What knowledge (education) is needed to read scripture?