Each semester I work with students who have either very little or no exposure to the Bible. My reasons for starting this way are simple: you have to crawl before you can walk. On a basic level, one might argue that the journey toward love is never fully complete; therefore, the scriptures have continual relevance for the life of faith. I simply mean that where other interpretations differ from our own but do not contradict what the Bible says elsewhere and which rightly conform to the commandments to love God and others, it is better to recognize them as valid even when we have reason in our own eyes to believe the view we hold is better. When a reader engages the Bible, the subject (Bible) scrutinizes, examines, and studies the object (reader), which results in … I also resonated with Augustine’s discussion of charity in biblical interpretation here. In On Christian Doctrine, Augustine’s most theoretical discussion of interpretation, he suggests that interpretation of scriptural passages should attempt to discern the intention of the biblical author had in mind. The person who is living the scriptures has made them a part of their being; at this point there is no longer a need for written texts. That is why many people, relying on these three things, actually live in solitude without any texts of the scriptures.”11, If the goal of reading the Bible is to grow in love, what happens when one reaches the destination? Change ). Augustine is the first ecclesiastical author the whole course of whose development can be clearly traced, as well as the first in whose case we are able to determine the exact period covered by his career, to the very day. I teach a basic introductory course on the Bible as a great work of literature at my local community college. Augustine, John, and the Donatists: Reflections on the African Context, Biblical Interpretation, and Ecclesiological Polemics Boek - Dissertatie This project examines two major contributing factors to the genesis and development of Augustine's reception of John in … Like many pastors, Augustine was not simply content to teach the Bible to his congregation. As a pastor and member of a Christian church, I regularly teach my interpretation of the scriptures and listen to others offer their interpretations of the scriptures. Even so, he believes that the love command (to love God and to love one’s neighbor) provides a central principle that is useful for biblical interpretation. The Interpretation of Scripture Depends on the Discovery and Enunciation of the Meaning, and is to Be Undertaken in Dependence on God's Aid. His understanding of these verses incorporates secular philosophical ideas, shedding light on his view of proper biblical interpretation. Keeping in mind that the goal of the Christian life is to order one’s loves correctly, the person who has interpreted the Bible wrongly, but loves, has taken a side trail to the right destination. As Paul says, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work (. Read More on This Topic If interpretations are true when they measure up to the standard of these two love commands, then a great range of perspectives and interpretations are open to the interpreter. Before we even begin to read any selections from the Bible, I start with a series of lectures that explain the history of the composition and formation of the Bible. When we love well, the text is written on our hearts. Augustine's method of exegesis is rich and multi-layered. He wanted to equip his congregation to read, interpret, understand, and apply the scriptures on their own. Each semester I work with students who have either very little or no exposure to the Bible.5 Before we even begin to read any selections from the Bible, I start with a series of lectures that explain the history of the composition and formation of the Bible. The criterion of membership in the city of God(a metaphor Augustine takes from the Psalms, cf. Augustine recognizes that becoming an expert interpreter is a “laborious task,” but it begins with the simple task of committing the Bible to memory or, if nothing else, becoming “not totally unfamiliar” with the content of the Bible. Along with John Chrysostom, Augustine was among the most prolific scholars of the early church by quantity. They can see how biblical law works, and they understand the purpose and symbolism of biblical ritual and worship. Notable proponents of allegorical interpretation include the Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo, who in the 4th century, on theological grounds, argued that God created everything in the universe in the same instant, and not in six days as a plain reading of Genesis would require; and the even earlier 1st-century Jewish scholar Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that it would be a mistake to think that creation … For Augustine, the Christian life is ultimately a life of correctly ordered loves–loving the things that ought to be loved in the appropriate measure.3 Therefore, one who truly understands the scriptures will live well and love well. I teach a basic introductory course on the Bible as a great work of literature at my local community college. St. Augustine answers the biblical literalists Posted on September 3, 2012 by David Gerald Fincham I recently came across the following quotation from St. Augustine of Hippo (354AD – 430AD) , one of the greatest Christian theologians, from his work De Genisi ad litteram (The Literal Meaning of … However, Augustine makes the provocative statement that a person firmly rooted in faith, hope, and love really has no need for the scriptures. A person belongs to the city of God if and only if he directs hislove towards God even at the expense of self-love, and he belongs tothe earthly city … Such a view of biblical interpretation has the potential to be unifying and to ensure that division does not ensue needlessly. Green (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), vii-viii (3) Ibid., 1.59 (4) Ibid., 2.24 (5) I also work with adult students who have been reading the Bible for many years. “See now how stupid it is, among so large a mass of entirely correct interpretations which can be elicited from those words, rashly to assert that a particular one has the best claim to be Moses’ view, and by destructive disputes to offend against charity itself, which is the principle of everything he said in the texts we are attempting to expound.” (Augustine, 265). As a pastor and teacher of the faithful, Augustine wrote On Christian Teaching as a simple guide to biblical interpretation. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Then I make sure that my students have a general sense of the books of the Bible and their arrangement. The person who is living the scriptures has made them a part of their being; at this point there is no longer a need for written texts. When we love well, the text is written on our hearts. ( Log Out / [Both Suk Arras and Bona ar… “So anyone who thinks he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbour, has not yet succeeded in understanding them.”. Augustine’s final commentary on Genesis was undoubtedly his most concerted effort as it was written over a fifteen year period. On the one hand, Augustine values the literal sense and encourages readers to find value in it. This suggests that Augustine also views scripture as a standard for truth, and if one can find support for other ideas within scripture (such as those of secular philosophy) and come up with an interpretation that conforms to the love commands, then such an interpretation is valid. Nobody can say why God made the world. As the opening quote illustrates, for Augustine, biblical interpretation is always abundantly practical. If the goal of reading the Bible is to grow in love, what happens when one reaches the destination? Conciliar Post promotes edifying dialogue that informs, encourages, and challenges people around the world. But he must be put right and shown how it is more useful not to leave the path, in case the habit of deviating should force him to go astray or even adrift.”10. The purpose of this project is to extract Augustine’s principles for interpreting Scripture from De Doctrina Christiana, and to apply these, as viewed through a postliberal, cultural- linguistic lens, to questions of division within the Church. Those readers should be gently corrected and directed back to the right path. Those familiar with the biography of Augustine will know that after being ordained a presbyter in the African town of Hippo, reportedly against his own wishes and desires, he requested time off to study the scriptures intensely.2 However a person views Augustine, it must be acknowledged that Augustine was primarily a pastor and an interpreter of the Bible. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Is there, then, any further need of the scriptures? They know the arrangements of the books and can identify the various genres of literature. Augustine's large contribution of writings covered diverse fields including theology, philosophy and sociology. If the purpose of the scriptures is to train a person to live a righteous life and to equip a person to do good works (2 Tim 3:16-17), then I suppose the scriptures cease to have a purpose once a person is living them out. However, I do not know if I can ALWAYS go all the way with you to say that it is “better to recognize too many interpretations than too few.” I have to make a distinction here between interpretations of nonessential and distinctive doctrines on one hand, and essential doctrines on the other. Clergy and laity are both subject to hermeneutical errors, but this is not the main point I want to make about this issue. Augustine’s a posteriori interpretation presupposes a particular community (the Church), and thus the two-fold act of discovery (modus inveniendi) and delivery (modus proferendi) is properly required for a full-orbed interpretation of Scripture (tractatio scripturarum). If my students do not grasp the basics of the Bible first, they will have a difficult time reading the oracles of the prophets, the poetry of the Psalms, or the parables of Jesus. Of course, as a student progresses on this path, other issues become relevant. No man can be a good bishop if he loves his title but not his task. I think a good rule of thumb is: in essentials unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all things charity. He wanted to equip his congregation to read, interpret, understand, and apply the scriptures on their own. They can see how biblical law works, and they understand the purpose and symbolism of biblical ritual and worship. Of course, Augustine goes on to say that the person should be corrected and shown both the right path and the right destination, but, as far as it goes, the person’s wrong reading of the Bible has produced a good result. Why Would a Protestant Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity. His hobbies include guitar, hiking, bird watching, crossword puzzles, sports, reading, and writing. The new translation includes changes to nearly 60,000 words from the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and is the best combination of a literal translation written in smooth and readable English. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The Relationship Between the Testaments Psalm 86:3 quoted,e.g., in De civitate dei 11.1) and its antagonist, theearthly city, is right or wrong love. The literal sense for Augustine is the sense the words bear in their original historical-linguistic context. “Therefore a person strengthened by faith, hope, and love, and who steadfastly holds on to them, has no need of the scriptures except to instruct others. Augustine states that the intended meaning is that which “corresponds both to the light of truth and to the reader’s spiritual profit” (270). 22:37-9)” (265) are the basis for any and all true interpretations of scripture. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading St. Augustine: The Literal Meaning of Genesis (Ancient Christian Writers Book 41). In Roman Catholicism he is formally recognized as a doctor of the church. Christians today would do well to consider these ideas. It is not easy to teach such a wide spectrum of students. For Augustine, the Christian life is ultimately a life of correctly ordered loves–loving the things that ought to be loved in the appropriate measure. The Arrangement of Scripture as a simple guide to biblical interpretation. Anyone hearing or reading scripture should be able to understand its truths at a certain level, no matter how blessed they are for intellect. Sometimes readers of the Bible make interpretative mistakes, but it still produces love in their lives. In Confessions 3.4.8 Augustine writes that he had the Gospels in his hands since childhood under his mother’s influence. If my students do not grasp the basics of the Bible first, they will have a difficult time reading the oracles of the prophets, the poetry of the Psalms, or the parables of Jesus. However a person views Augustine, it must be acknowledged that Augustine was primarily a pastor and an interpreter of the Bible. As the opening quote illustrates, for Augustine, biblical interpretation is … This book contains a group of essays by internationally recognized scholars on Augustine’s hermeneutical theory and practice of biblical exegesis attempting to understand Augustine (1) against his own intellectual background, (2) within his own works, and (3) in relation to traditional and contemporary discussions of biblical hermeneutics and exegesis. Augustine states that the commands “[l]et us love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. If we are unable to agree on the author’s meaning, we at least should interpret Scripture according to the wider context of the Bible as a whole. Augustine also discusses how the Bible has many levels of truth for people of varied intelligence and ability. In the first chapter, a survey of the principles that Augustine … I, Thou, and the Need for We: An Incarnational Reading of Martin Buber, Goals and Motivations for Presenting Sin in Church History, Happiness, Death, Anxiety, Resurrection – IV: The Apostle Paul, Breath of the Soul: Sustenance for Daily Strength, Why I Didn’t Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy. In the same way, Augustine argues that the most advanced students of the scriptures begin by gaining a basic reading knowledge of the Bible. . Those familiar with the biography of Augustine will know that after being ordained a presbyter in the African town of Hippo, reportedly against his own wishes and desires, he requested time off to study the scriptures intensely. He teaches classes at several local colleges in the areas of religion and humanities. My reasons for starting this way are simple: you have to crawl before you can walk. 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