Scripture, Incarnation, Love: Three Modes of Divine Revelation in Augustine (original) (raw)

De Doctrina Christiana and the Interpretation of Scripture

"The Scriptural Imagination", Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Conference at Villanova University, 2015

Augustine’s methodology for the interpretation of Scripture represented an expansive understanding of both authority and meaning. This methodology also revealed Augustine as a theologian who understood that the more important things contained in the Word of God may remain beyond the grasp of individual thinkers, but could be understood through the combined experiences of the people of God. Augustine read Scripture with the hope of discovering the fullest meaning (sensus plenior) contained in it, and by approaching Scripture with this perspective, Augustine changed the way Scripture worked within the Church. To support this assertion, this paper investigates Augustine’s interpretative process in four parts. Part One discusses the place of De Magistro as a “prequel” to Augustine’s interpretation method. Special attention is paid to Augustine’s discussion of words as signs, words used in teaching, and the eternal teaching of Christ the Divine Teacher. Part Two traces the hermeneutical project in De doctrina Christiana, a project which Augustine advocated for all readers of Scripture, especially those who engage in preaching and homiletics. Part Three discusses the importance of harmony between Scripture, authority, and the rule of faith, and will show how Augustine blended these three elements together in creative tension. Finally, Part Four takes a more speculative turn, and extends the Augustinian project into two books of De Trinitate. Through this extension, this investigation illustrates how Augustine’s interpretative hermeneutic remains a viable and vibrant element of the contemporary Catholic Church, especially in its new evangelization project.