Augustine argues that the Bible is without error, and thus true, which helps edify the believer’s faith. However, the teachers who have this knowledge must present the information eloquently, so that the believers can be edified with the speech as well. Without proper teaching and learning, the believers can take a relative interpretation of the Word and “quote scriptures according to his understanding or preference” (Augustine, 105). In order for the believers to fully absorb the truth, the contemporary church needs to equip the skills in the ministers and teach Christians proper hermeneutics to read the Word accurately.
I. Biblical Analysis
Augustine begins by grounding that the scripture is without error. The scripture is a foundation to understand faith and the love of God. It serves as a guide to the believer’s faith, therefore, it cannot be erroneous. Augustine incorporates 2 Cor. 5:7 to support his point; believers “walk by faith, not by sight.” By reading the Word, believers learn about God’s love and trust that everything He has written in the Bible is true. However, if the authority of the Scripture is shaken due to an error, then faith is shaken, which leads to the decay of love (Augustine, 28). However, this argument almost seems like Augustine is accentuating his argument without enough support. He seems to assume that his readers already recognize that the Scripture is without error. Those who do not believe so are misled due to their own interpretation because the scriptures do not lie (Augustine, 27). There needs to be a stronger biblical support to support that the Scripture is without error. Jesus himself states that "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matt 24:35) and "not the sm...
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... of the scriptures that differs from that of the writer is misled” (Augustine 27). Augustine also makes an important notion that if believers are not equipped with proper faith, then their sight will be replaced by the visible reality and hope will be replaced by the real happiness that we can attain (Augustine 28). Therefore, a proper interpretation of scripture is critical. Many believers are taught to read the Word and take relative interpretations. They are taught to ask questions such as “what does the passage mean to me?” or “how does it apply to my life?” When they do this, they are removing the Word out of the context which increases the likelihood of misinterpretation. Thus, the contemporary church needs to open hermeneutics classes so that Christians learn how to read the Word with God’s point of view and learn how His meaning can be applied to their lives.
...e so it may be fabrication or mayhap truly be Godly intervention Augustine had opened up to a passage that had told him to discard his lust for flesh and put on Jesus Christ. This was the last sign that he needed and Augustine converts immediately.
If as believers we fail to completely trust the Word of God and form our life under its direction then our witness will become misleading and even confusing. Believer’s effort in diligently understanding, applying and holding full trust to the word of God in all aspects of our life will be instrumental in building our faith. Such a faith will elevate us to enable us rise above the unrelenting wave of our culture’s non-biblical ideologies. Biblical worldview is very important in order to develop a life, which can be emulated by others in diligence, integrity and honesty in the modern society (Tackett, 2014).
William C. Plachers’ article, “Is the Bible True?” explores deeper into the subject of the Bible and if it content it contains is credible information. Through Plachers’ statement, “We need to understand the genre to understand a text. Reading a text literally is not always reading it faithfully,” we are able to reach the idea that the Bible is in fact true, but it all depends on how the individual interprets the text.
St. Augustine said in the beginning of this chapter, “My desire was not to be more certain of you but to be more stable in you (pg. 133).” One remaining thing that was preventing him from converting is becoming a member of the Church. St. Augustine now possessed a good understanding of God and the perception of evil and considered himself on the path of Christianity, but was still unable to get past becoming a full member of the church. When talking to Simplicianus one thing resonated within St. Augustine that he had said, “I shall not believe that or count you among the Christians unless I see you in the Church of Christ (pg. 136).” St. Augustine was ready to believe in Christ, but was looking for a reason, something that would push him over the edge to devoutly follow Christ and leave his last doubts in the past. He still struggled with the desires of his flesh and the desires of the spirit and has continued to try and find rest in this struggle. Not long after his conversation with Simplicianus he meets with another friend Ponticianus. He tells St. Augustine a story about two men, friends of his, who went on a trip to a monastery and during their trip their eyes were opened and both came to Christ and began to serve him from that moment on.
From Augustine’s experience we can see that knowledge is critical, and sometimes even more important than correct opinion. Although both of them could lead people to success, knowledge is more reliable and long-standing. God prompted Augustine to transform from a Manichee to a Christian. Such transformation requires Augustine to have deeper understanding from the soul, is not what merely correct opinion could bring about. Augustine once feared that he would not manage to find the truth, but his faith in God enables him to acquire knowledge and approach the truth. Augustine’s reflection made him a person closer to God.
When looking at the common theme that Barth develops in God Here and Now, it becomes apparent for the need of congregation to justify, ratify, and promote the Bible as the living word of God. When and where the Bible constitutes its own authority and significance, it mediates the very presence of God through the congregation. Encountering this presence in the Church, among those whose lives presume living through the Bible’s power and meaning. Barth states that the Bible must become God's Word and this occurs only when God wills to address us in and through it. The Christ-event is God's definitive self-disclosure, while Scripture and preaching are made to correspond to him as a faithful witness becomes the perfect statement according to Barth (Barth, 2003, p. 61).
N.T Wright (2008) stated that “When we read the scriptures as Christians, we read it precisely as people of the new covenant and of the new creation” (p.281). In this statement, the author reveals a paradigm of scriptural interpretation that exists for him as a Christian, theologian, and profession and Bishop. When one surveys the entirety of modern Christendom, one finds a variety of methods and perspectives on biblical interpretation, and indeed on the how one defines the meaning in the parables of Jesus. Capon (2002) and Snodgrass (2008) offer differing perspectives on how one should approach the scriptures and how the true sense of meaning should be extracted. This paper will serve as a brief examination of the methodologies presented by these two authors. Let us begin, with an
Which resulted Augustine in exploring the philosophical road that led to his conversion from Macheanism to Neo-Platonism to Christianity. But later felt sorrowful for his mother that had died and confesses to God that everyone is a sinner right when they were born and through God that this sin can only be absorbed. He later moves back to Thagaste and then became Bishop of Hippo. As a “doctor” of the Chruch, he defended Christianity against false (heretic) interpretation. After his conversion, he refused to teach rhetoric. Yet, in the end, no matter what sin he had done Augustine found his savior. Which led him to write about how to convey God’s truth to diverse audiences and demonstrates that both the Bible and one’s own life are texts to be read and assessed against the true Cristian Doctrine. The last four books were like an appendix and offers an interpretation of the opening of the Book of Genesis. When Augustine’s converted to Christianity his appropriation of Platonic ideas uses his past sins and later confesses to God that will eventually enhance his soul and body. The consequences of this appropriation are that sins are considered to be
Saint Augustine’s On Faith and the Creed breaks down the Apostles Creed and expresses the essence of the Christian faith. The 11 chapters within On Faith and The Creed express many truths of the faith. Chapter one explains the origin of the creed and object of its composition. The Apostles Creed is a sufficient summary of the faith for beginners and those who who are more diligent in their faith. Many heretics have tried to corrupt the interpretation of the Apostles Creed. Yet, since it is written according to the scripture, the Apostles Creed is based on complete truth. Chapter two expresses the fact that eternity is exclusive. Saint Augustine talks about how the Apostles Creed will not truly be understood or impact a person if they are not
theological perspective is evident on almost every page of this book, and at times—especially in
The death of Augustine’s friend opened his eyes, and allowed him to see what he was missing in life. Prior to death of his friend, Augustine had a gap in his life. However, instead of properly filling this gap with God, he decided to fill it with worldly endeavors and material things. This only worsened his condition in the long run. Not realizing that he needed God just made the gap larger. Upon the death of his friend, he had metaphorically stretched the hole out so much that when it reopened it caused him immense pain. He tried to use material cures to heal himself, but once again “These delights were succeeded not by new sorrows, but by the causes of new sorrows” (60). Looking back, Augustine sees that it takes him an extremely long time to put his faith in God. Even after he states that he should turn to God he turns to the visible world and is once again let down by the results. He even admits, “At the time I did not know this. I loved beautiful things of a lower order, and I was going down to the depths” (64). This is the point he fully acknowledges that the worldly path is leading him astray. Here we see Augustine’s path in life changed for the better. He now can recognize that these failures were a sign to God. These attempts to fill the void in his life didn’t work because they lacked God. The death of his friend was the catalyst that started change in his life.
The influence and rhetoric Augustine had as a great theologian and philosopher has helped shape and build Western Christianity and Theology. He is perceived by many individuals to be as crucially important, following that of St. Paul, in founding Western Christianity, playing a very impactful role in Roman Catholic, as well as, Protestant religions. The ability augustine had to express his philosophy through his works and his scholarly achievement is bewildering to comprehend, even in today's modern age. It is believed Augustine wrote upwards of 300 pages per book every year, for approximately forty years. Countless volumes Augustine manifested are still accessible today but there are some of them which have never been translated into English.
W. Andrew Hoffecker. Building a Christian World View, vol. 1: God, man, and Knowledge. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., Phillipsburg, New Jersey : 1986. William S. Babcock. The Ethics of St. Augustine: JRE Studies in Religion, no. 3.
Authority of Scripture reconciles the community with God and can transform our lives. To participate in the fuller blessing of understanding, it is important to view Scripture with historical and literary sensitivity, interpret theocentrically, ecclesially, and contextually. I realize each of these can be overwhelming to the average person who is seeking direction for a specific concern in their life. Therefore, Migliore reminds us, interpreting Scripture is practical engagement in the living of Christian faith, love, and hope in a still redeemed world. When we listen carefully to the voices of the past, from a worldwide culture, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we will open ourselves to those transformational opportunities.
Throughout the course of history, religion has been the base of several lifestyles. During the Seventh Century, many priests taught their disciples the do’s and don’ts of the Bible and how to refrain from any imperfections, such as sin. Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley, writers from that time period, were famous for their speeches about the importance of God. Edwards’s tone, mentality, and teaching methods are different from Wesley’s.