Augustine

Question 1

VINDICATED BY RESURRECTION

Answer 1

• he was proven right in his claims to be the Messiah and the Son of God
• AQ needed to touch him to believe

Question 2

ASCENSION & THE HOLY SPIRIT

Answer 2

• if JC goes the Advocate will not come
• “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.13But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”

Question 3

ST. AUGUSTINE (354-430)

Answer 3

• sin of stealing pears with his friends
• close friend dies and Augustine is struck with grief
• professor of rhetoric at carthage
• unimpressed with a bishop
• appointed professor of rhetoric in Milan
• gives panegyric for emporer
• reads bible and converts to catholic
• baptised and his mother Monica dies
• became bishop
• writes confessions

Question 4

themes in Confessions

Answer 4

• The Restless Heart
• The Nature of True Love
• Philosophical Journey: Manichean, Skeptic, Christian
• True Praise: from seeking praise to giving praise

Question 5

Why write the Confessions? What kind of book is this?

Answer 5

• “praise the just and good God for my evil and good acts, and lift up the understanding and affection of men to Him”
• A direct address of the soul of Augustine to God to praise Him

Question 6

primary and secondary purposes of Confessions

Answer 6

• Primary Purpose: To praise God for his providence.
• Secondary Purpose: To lift other’s minds and hearts to God

Question 7

love of god and the restless heart

Answer 7

• restless desire to praise god
• heart rests in the praise of god

Question 8

what does it mean to praise

Answer 8

• rejoicing in someone’s goodness
• a goodness that is beyond you, but brings you joy

Question 9

what makes the praise of god possible

Answer 9

• humility, not pride
• love of god, not disordered desire

Question 10

book-by-book story of Augustine

Answer 10

1. seeking praise from men rather than giving to god
2. sin, steals the pear
3. restless for love, reads Cicero’s Hortensius (too crude
4. friend becomes deathly ill and baptized on deathbed (struck with grief)
5. Monica (mother) prays for his conversion, disillusionment with Faustus, enchantment with Ambrose
6. prepares panegyric, more restless than beggar because he is telling lies
7. idea of god as purely spiritual (overcomes misconception), reads Epistles of St. Paul
8. confronts himself, reversal of pear tree at fig tree, rejects sin, rest at last
9. baptised by bishop Ambrose, Monica dies, mourns with hope not dispair