Expositions of the Psalms 51–72
Overview
As the psalms are a microcosm of the Old Testament, so the Expositions of the Psalms can be seen as a microcosm of Augustinian thought. In the Book of Psalms are to be found the history of the people of Israel, the theology and spirituality of the Old Covenant, and a treasury of human experience expressed in prayer and poetry. So too does the work of expounding the psalms recapitulate and focus the experiences of Augustine’s personal life, his theological reflections and his pastoral concerns as Bishop of Hippo. The full set of 6 Volumes of the Expositions of the Psalms is translated by Maria Boulding.
Top Highlights
“To the end, a psalm of a canticle for David himself. Now in many other psalms we have remarked on the meaning of to the end, pointing out that Christ is the end of the law, bringing justification to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4). He is the ‘end’ as one who brings perfection, not an end in the sense of using up something or destroying it.” (Page 324)
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for my soul trusts in you. Christ is praying in his passion, Have mercy on me, O God. God is saying to God, Have mercy on me. He who, together with the Father, has mercy on you is crying out in you, Have mercy on me. Something in him that belongs to you is crying out, Have mercy on me, something that he took from you; for he clothed himself in flesh to set you free. Now this same flesh is pleading, Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy; the whole man is pleading, the man who is soul and flesh, for the Word assumed our entire humanity, the Word became a complete man.” (Page 107)
“They came to understand that besides all those things that he gives to the good and the wicked, and sometimes takes away from both good and wicked, there is something else that he reserves for the good alone. What does he reserve for good people? What does he keep for them? Himself.” (Page 476)
“So, in the case of ourselves, our ‘end’ must mean our perfection, and our perfection is Christ. We are made perfect in him because he is our head and we are his members; and he is called the end of the law because without him no one perfectly keeps the law.” (Page 53)
“We conclude, therefore, that there is a hidden deliverance, and a manifest deliverance. Hidden deliverance is a matter of the soul; manifest deliverance extends even to the body.” (Page 385)
- Title: Expositions of the Psalms 51–72
- Authors: Augustine of Hippo, Maria Boulding
- Series: The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century
- Volume: 17
- Publisher: New City Press
- Print Publication Date: 2001
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology › Early church, ca. 30-600
- ISBNs: 1565480554, 1565481569, 1565481550, 9781565480551, 9781565481565, 9781565481558
- Resource ID: LLS:XPSTNSPSLM03
- Resource Type: text.monograph.sermons
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T21:12:37Z