1. Conclusion to the Confessions Dr. Ann T. Orlando 28 January 2008

2. Books XI, XII, XIIII Book XI: In the beginning Book XI: In the beginning Book XII: God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; Book XII: God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; Book XIII: and the Spirit of God moved over the waters. Book XIII: and the Spirit of God moved over the waters.

3. Book XII Understanding “God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep” Understanding “God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep” What was the void and deep: unformed matter What was the void and deep: unformed matter God created unformed matter by His Word, and gave it form by his Word God created unformed matter by His Word, and gave it form by his Word The only thing not from God is what has no existence: sin The only thing not from God is what has no existence: sin Two things created by God lie outside of time Two things created by God lie outside of time Angels Angels Formless matter Formless matter

4. Book XII: Multiple Meanings of Scripture What did Moses mean? What did Moses mean? Multiple meanings of ‘heaven and earth’ Multiple meanings of ‘heaven and earth’ Heaven might be figurative of intellect, earth of corporeal Heaven might be figurative of intellect, earth of corporeal Heaven and earth might mean all visible things Heaven and earth might mean all visible things There can be multiple true interpretations There can be multiple true interpretations As long as each interpreter tries to ascertain in the holy scriptures the meaning the author intended, what harm is there if the reader holds an opinion which you show to be true, even though it was not intended by the author As long as each interpreter tries to ascertain in the holy scriptures the meaning the author intended, what harm is there if the reader holds an opinion which you show to be true, even though it was not intended by the author They all believe that Moses spoke is a truthful spirit They all believe that Moses spoke is a truthful spirit Truth is not mine, nor his, nor hers, but belongs to all of us Truth is not mine, nor his, nor hers, but belongs to all of us Had I been Moses...I would hope to have written in such a way that if anyone else had in the light of truth seen some other valid meaning, that too should not be excluded Had I been Moses...I would hope to have written in such a way that if anyone else had in the light of truth seen some other valid meaning, that too should not be excluded

5. Book XIII Understanding “the Spirit of God moved over the waters” and the days of creation Understanding “the Spirit of God moved over the waters” and the days of creation The Spirit is the third person of the Trinity The Spirit is the third person of the Trinity The Trinity is the creator of the whole universe The Trinity is the creator of the whole universe Spirit, super-eminent in love, is poised over waters; Trinity creates in an eternal unmoved movement of love Spirit, super-eminent in love, is poised over waters; Trinity creates in an eternal unmoved movement of love Two movements of our heart Two movements of our heart In love with restless cares In love with restless cares Movement upward beyond cares to all-surpassing rest in God Movement upward beyond cares to all-surpassing rest in God Can anyone comprehend the Trinity? Can anyone comprehend the Trinity?

6. Book XIII Ourselves and the Church Our triad within, distant analogy to Trinity Our triad within, distant analogy to Trinity Being, knowledge, will Being, knowledge, will All three in one life All three in one life Trinity unchangeably exists, unchangeably knows, unchangeably wills Trinity unchangeably exists, unchangeably knows, unchangeably wills Days of creation as individual spiritual progress, starting with Baptism Days of creation as individual spiritual progress, starting with Baptism Days of creation as figurative of building up of Church, predestined before creation Days of creation as figurative of building up of Church, predestined before creation What human can empower another human to understand these things? Let us rather ask of you, seek in you, knock at your door. Only so will we receive, only so find, and only so will the door be opened to us. Amen What human can empower another human to understand these things? Let us rather ask of you, seek in you, knock at your door. Only so will we receive, only so find, and only so will the door be opened to us. Amen