Instructing Beginners in Faith

by Augustine of Hippo

Publisher:

New City Press

, 2015

Overview

As with very many of Augustine’s works, Instructing Beginners in Faith is a response to a request, an answer to questions put to him by others. In this case we know from the first words of the work itself that the one making the request is named Deogratias (Augustine calls him “brother”), and a couple of lines later we learn that he is a deacon in Carthage, the principal city of Proconsular Africa, where he enjoys popularity as a teacher of the faith. In the most general terms, he wanted Augustine to send him “something in writing which might be of use to him on the question of instructing beginners in faith (de catechizandis rudibus)”. The term rudes in this expression referred specifically to people who were approaching the Church for the first time with the wish to become Christians.

Instructing Beginners in Faith has been frequently and creatively adapted to serve the needs of education in faith in many different contexts, including the education of clergy and religious education more generally. The two model catecheses that Augustine sketches not only continue to have relevance today but also provide an important insight into his understanding of the use of scripture and tradition. Augustine’s awareness of the problems that religious educators face demonstrates his profound grasp of the human condition. Written as a reflection on the most suitable way of communicating the heart of Christian faith to those applying for membership of the Church.

Key Features

• Gives answers to questions put to him by others.
• Adapts to serve the needs of education in faith in many different contexts.
• Provides an important insight into his understanding of the use of scripture and tradition.

Product Details

• Title: Instructing Beginners in Faith
• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Publisher: New City Press
• Print Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 173
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781565482395, 1565482395
• Resource ID: LLS:NSTRCTNGBGNNFTH
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-10T17:37:25Z

About Augustine of Hippo

Aurelius Augustinus (354–430) is often simply referred to as St. Augustine or Augustine Bishop of Hippo (the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba in Algeria). He is the preeminent Doctor of the Church according to Roman Catholicism, and is considered by Evangelical Protestants to be in the tradition of the Apostle Paul as the theological fountainhead of the Reformation teaching on salvation and grace.