Although Augustine’s ideas about biblical interpretation developed with age and with his deeper church involvement as Bishop of Hippo, he never abandoned the centrality of biblical interpretation as a pillar of the life of Christian faith. This collection examines in detail the methods of Augustine the biblical interpreter.
Paula Fredriksen explores the ways that Augustine uses a literal interpretation of the Bible to understand the role of Israel, Jews, and Judaism in his theology of history. Thomas F. Martin uses Augustine’s later works to demonstrate how Augustine reads Romans as he develops his “method of discovery,” or hermeneutics. Eugene TeSelle examines the inner conflict that Augustine expresses in his sermons on Romans 7 and 8. Simon Gathercole analyzes the ways that Augustine reads natural law and restored nature in Romans as a result of his conversion. John K. Riches looks at the impact Augustine’s readings have had on Pauline critical studies. Using Galatians and Romans, Peter J. Gorday explores the patristic debate about reading Romans. Daniel Patte offers Augustine as a model for the practice of “scriptural criticism” of the New Testament. Finally, Krister Stendhal provides a response to the essays.
