For example, see McGrath (2009). Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE) most famous for his work Confessions and his City of God, is regarded as one of the Fathers of The Church in the tradition of Catholicism.In this brief essay from his The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Augustine denounces Christians who speak on subjects they know little or nothing about in an attempt to appear `wise’ among non-Christians. Because he is so greatly respected and frequently cited his work has infused confusion into an already misunderstood debate. A hyper-literal interpretation takes everything in a strictly literal fashion. However, Augustine often sought another sense and this fluctuating hermeneutic has resulted in confusion over exactly what he really believed on some subjects. However, one must realize that the cause of his changing hermeneutic had more to do with his spiritual growth than with trying to appease the beliefs of his contemporaries. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm B. Eerdmans. He also offered some thoughts on the Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit. Also, he had a broader scope than the allegorical commentaries since was not focused merely on refuting one heretical view or showing how the creation account symbolized his own testimony. Second, since it was made of fire, which was the lightest of the elements, it would have rose highest above the Earth. He used Jacob and Esau as examples since Jacob was holding Esau’s foot as they were delivered. Augustine writes: “only avoid asserting anything rashly, and something you don’t know as if you did; and remember that you are just a human being investigating the works to … In On Genesis, ed. While it may be impossible to be dogmatic that all animals were originally vegetarian, since the fish are not listed, this verse mentions “every beast of the earth, every bird of the air,” and “everything that creeps on the earth.” These three classifications cover all land creatures which are frequently carnivorous today. 1994. Every dating method, including starlight from distant galaxies and radiometric dating techniques, are based on three assumptions. The swimming creatures of the fifth day were created in the waters, while the flying creatures flew on the face of the expanse of the second day and multiplied on the land of the third day. Five years after completing his first commentary, Augustine tried his hand at a literal commentary. Therefore, since all the works of God were completed in six days, the world must continue in its present state through six ages, that is, six thousand years.”. When Augustine described his later works on Genesis as “literal,” he intended to distinguish them from the allegorical approach of his earlier two-volume work on Genesis against the Manichees. He also gave a more personal allegorical interpretation in which each of the days corresponds to a specific developmental period of each person’s life (Augustine 2002a, I.25.43). Augustine admits there are instances which are beyond his understanding. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English lexicon, S. 1056. Augustine. St Augustine On Genesis. Overall, his first commentary provides invaluable information about his early years as a believer and some outstanding critiques of the Manichean cult. Although he would continue to cite these books in his later commentaries, he modified his view of their authority. Start by marking “On Genesis (Fathers of the Church)” as Want to Read: Error rating book. St. Augustine paid special attention to the book of Genesis. Although this commentary was written approximately eight years before he became a bishop, Augustine already demonstrated his concern for training fellow believers. He remained undecided on the issue because he believed Scripture was silent concerning the subject (Augustine 2002b, II.18.38). In particular, this writing on Genesis magnifies his appreciation of the Lord who created new life in him in what he believed was a similar fashion to the way He created the world. Oak Harbor, Washington: Logos Research Systems. Irenaeus wrote, “For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded . Electronic ed. Smither 2008, pp. Augustine's special interest in Genesis had two roots: apologetic and theological. This was due to several reasons. New Revised Standard Version. AiG consents to unlimited copying and distribution of print copies of, An Examination of Augustine’s Commentaries on Genesis One and Their Implications on a Modern Theological Controversy, How Genomes are Sequenced and Why it Matters: Implications for Studies in Comparative Genomics of Humans and Chimpanzees, Created Kinds and Essential Natures: A Biblical and Philosophical Response to Evolutionists, Williams 2001, p. 62. The sun, moon, and stars of the fourth day are the various ways in which God communicates His message to mankind. New York: Newman Press. Just as it is in modern times, astrology was very popular in his day. It also reveals his newfound belief that Genesis could be understood in a literal fashion. Augustine wrestled at great lengths in attempting to understand the book of Genesis. Because of his Neo-Platonic leanings, (Dengerink 1976, p. 33) Augustine believed that God created all things instantaneously in their potential forms or “predispositions” (Fiedrowicz 2002, p. 153). For example, he sought an answer as to why God did not “see that it was good” in verse 2, but He did “see that it was good” after creating the light. As shown in the sections about his two literal commentaries, Augustine frequently avoided the literal interpretation of a passage if it did not mesh with his understanding of the science or philosophy of his day. The waters made on the first day were divided on the second. Biblical interpretation. The title of the work may suggest that Augustine sought out a strictly literal interpretation of the book over against the other three methods. Augustine’s origin of species. Consequently, the statement “Let there be light” could not have been made in time, but in eternity, and it could not have literally referred to the creation of light, but of intelligent life (Augustine 2002b, I.17). These works had included such ideas as taking the days of Genesis 1 as 7 epochs of redemptive-historical history, and 7 stages of the Christian life.De Genesis contra Manichaeos 1.23.35-1.25.43, in Augustine, On Genesis, 62-68. Luther’s works: American edition, 55 volumes, Volume 1. St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House. Catholic Faith and Reason. His use of Genesis to refute false teachings and set forth the truth should be instructive for church leaders today.31 His conviction that God’s word is authoritative and inerrant should also be emphasized among modern believers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Augustine’s version stated that the earth was “invisible and shapeless” (Augustine 2002a, I.3.5) rather than the modern “without form and void.” Once again, Augustine is forced to explain something that would not be an issue if he had an accurate translation. His response is that these serve as admonitions to man that he should observe what trouble he ought to take over his spiritual, everlasting health and welfare (Augustine 2002b, III.16.25). However, he wrote very little about man’s creation here because he saved that topic for his commentary on the second chapter of Genesis.16 He wrote. Shedding some light on his interpretive method, Augustine states that his purpose was to uphold the He wonders how it is possible that the heavenly bodies of the fourth day could have been given to mark days since three days had already passed (Augustine 2002c, 12.36). The first two -- On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees and his Unfinished Literal Commentary on Genesis -- are early works. He wanted to know why God said certain phrases in some instances but not others. In contradistinction to these beliefs, the Bible explains that only the perfectly good God is eternal and evil is a result of the free choices made by His creatures. This is largely due to a failure to recognize Augustine’s context and his purpose for writing what he did. Also, the big bang proposes that earth originally formed as a hot molten ball, while the Bible states that earth was originally created as covered by water. For example, the creation of fruit trees on Day Three is discussed in a straightforward manner, although he goes on to wonder when God created the non-fruit bearing trees. Asking when something happened is different than asking how and why something works. He felt that this type of activity would lead to a mockery of the faith by those who needed to be evangelized. Augustine had little patience for Manichean beliefs and he certainly made it clear that he was no longer a member of that heretical sect. However, he still resorts to the other styles at times and even warned against making confident claims about one’s interpretation. 1997. The Vetus Latina once again led him to believe that when God began creating the world it was shapeless and invisible rather than simply being unfinished.22 With this in mind, Augustine speculated about how God could have spoken words, such as “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Instead, Augustine focused on the creation of the animal kingdom and answering some of the many questions surrounding its formation. He asks if the accounts of God's actions while creating the world should be "taken as only having a figurative meaning" or if they should be "asserted and defended as faithful account of what actually happened." Retrieved from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/may/22.39.html?start=1. Augustine relied heavily on an allegorical hermeneutic in his first commentary. He was concerned with refuting the Manichees, Donatists, and many others, rather than teaching about the age of the earth. In his efforts to marry Genesis with the science of the day, Augustine often asserted an interpretation of Scripture that would now be deemed false. Augustine has too keen an eye to miss the inconsistency of heaven and earth being created both in the first verse and later on. A more natural solution is to hold that insects were created on the sixth day when God made everything that “creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:25). The stars are likened to the gifts of the Spirit given to individuals, while the sun and moon shine brighter and represent the meatier teachings of God’s word which babes in the faith cannot handle. The sun, moon, and stars of the fourth day were placed in the expanse created on the second day. 570–571). This translation was based on the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. The history of pre-critical biblical interpretation. St. Ambrose’s spiritual interpretations of the text eventually convinced Augustine of the reliability of the biblical account. He speculated as to whether or not insects were made during the Creation Week or if the perishable material things from which they allegedly sprang contained them in seed form (Augustine 2002b, III.14.22–23). This points up the wisdom which Augustine displayed in utilizing the Bible’s first book in his apologetic approach. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm B. Eerdmans. Augustine wrote nothing to the purpose concerning faith; for he was first roused up … But his awareness of alternative, less “literalistic” interpretations of Genesis 1 was a critical factor in his return to orthodoxy. First, it remained unfinished and he would seek to improve upon it in his final literal commentary on the book. When Scripture clearly teaches something, science should never be used to overrule it. He addressed the issue of creation in several different places in his extensive writings (of more than five million words), speculating in various ways on the meaning of the six creation days. From the big bang perspective, the earth has never been entirely covered by water. These comments are not meant to diminish Augustine’s work, but to point out that some of his comments are irrelevant because they do not deal with the actual text. Chaffey, T. 2008. http://www.intratext.com/Catalogo/Autori/AUT31.HTM, Finding the 1,000 Books to Read in a Lifetime. . 1997. Based on this quote, one might think Augustine believed that science trumped biblical teachings, but he did not. Although he believed these events are truly historical, his discussion of the six days is predominantly allegorical, with the lone exception of the creation of mankind. He stated that the Manichees often asked why God created so many animals that are unnecessary for human beings. Augustine's Two Books on Genesis against the Manichees and On the Literal Interpretation of Genesis: An Unfinished Book represent the first two of five explanations of the beginning of the Book of Genesis that he undertook between 388 and 418. Finally, Augustine occasionally ignored or missed an obvious answer to his questions. St. Jerome, indeed, wrote upon Matthew, upon the Epistles to the Galatians and to Titus; but, alas, very coldly. Ross, H. 2000. He rightly pointed out that. 27–28). Hyde Park, New York: New City Press. The modern “without form and void” (Hebrew. Augustine. Oak Harbor, Washington: Logos Research Systems. Hyde Park, New York: New City Press. He describes how God created the Forms in The Literal Interpretation of Genesis. This will be explained in the next section. After giving consideration to a straightforward understanding—that days one through three were marked by the light created on Day One and that days four and following were marked by the heavenly bodies—Augustine opted for a timeless creation of all things. Hyde Park, New York: New City Press. For example, in a debate on The John Ankerberg Show, Dr. Ross claimed that he could not claim credit for finding the alleged consistencies between the Bible and the big bang theory because David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah had already discovered it more than 2,500 years earlier (Ross 2000). Christianity Today 53(5). He commanded His chosen people to circumcise every male. After a brief introduction he began to explain the text of the first three chapters. Just as Augustine must be interpreted in context, so must the Bible be allowed to speak for itself. James Mustich's 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die is bound to seriously expand that list... To see what your friends thought of this book. He believes that because these books contain verses that state God “stretched out the heavens” the Bible must teach the big bang theory. Unfinished literal commentary on Genesis.In On Genesis, ed. Smither rightly included this book as being concerned with Christian teaching in his chapter of Augustine’s mentoring work prior to his role as bishop. 1, Book 4, Chapter 33, paragraph 51–52, p. 141, italics in the original. 1. If the Bible clearly affirms a truth then it matters not what the majority of scientists claim, because God knows exactly what He did, how He did it, when He did it, and He is capable of revealing it to man in an understandable manner. Augustine placed tremendous emphasis in the ability of the creation account to refute many of the false views of his day. He explained that he. This provides an illustration of the dangers of allowing scientific understanding to trump Scripture. Apparently, this version translated verse 5 as stating. . Was it in time or in eternity past? The famous church father wrote four separate commentaries on the first chapter of Genesis. This implies that these animals were also cursed.24 This may very well have involved a change of diet. Cooper, D. L. 1970. . Certainly, these doctrines are more important to one’s salvation, but the problem is the same. Similar to the first two books in this commentary, Augustine frequently wondered why the chapter states what it does. Rather than recognizing the necessity of a progression of time, his a priori commitment to a timeless creation caused him to search for non-literal elements in the text. J. E. Rotelle O.S.A and E. Hill. Augustine also differentiated between what he believed was a literal interpretation and what might be called a hyper-literal interpretation, which was practiced by the Manichees. Only three paragraphs after the above quotation, he wrote: Augustine firmly believed that true science and the true interpretation of Scripture would agree in every detail. This complicated reasoning could have easily been avoided if he would have accepted a progression of time during the creation rather than clinging to an instantaneous creation. Volume VII: Fathers of the third and fourth centuries, eds. Each commentary surveyed will contain a brief discussion of the problems caused by the Old Latin Bible. God means what He says: A biblical critique of the framework hypothesis. Concerning this commentary, Augustine would later write in his Revisions,Despite the Christian training of his youth, by the age of 19, Augustine was persuaded against Christianity by Manichean arguments, which were often focused on Genesis 1 (Augustine 2002, I.2.3). His interpretive schemes set forth in these particular days of creation this led him spiritualize... 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