Augustine and the Cure of Souls

Paul R. Kolbet

Description

Augustine and the Cure of Souls situates Augustine within the ancient philosophical tradition of using words to order emotions. Paul Kolbet uncovers a profound continuity in Augustine’s thought, from his earliest pre-baptismal writings to his final acts as bishop, revealing a man deeply indebted to the Roman past and yet distinctly Christian. Rather than supplanting his classical learning, Augustine’s Christianity reinvigorated precisely those elements of Roman wisdom that he believed were slipping into decadence. In particular, Kolbet addresses the manner in which Augustine not only used classical rhetorical theory to express his theological vision, but also infused it with theological content.

This book offers a fresh reading of Augustine’s writings—particularly his numerous, though often neglected, sermons—and provides an accessible point of entry into the great North African bishop’s life and thought.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Philosophie antique
• Religion
• Christianisme
• Pastoral Resources
• Christian Ministry
• Surveys
• Religious
• PHILOSOPHY
• Philosophie et théologie
• Minister (Christianity)
• Christianity
• Classical
• Ancient
• History

Informations

• Publié par: University of Notre Dame Press
• Date de parution: 15 novembre 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780268084752
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

AUGUSTINE AND THE CURE OF SOULS
CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM IN ANTIQUITY SERIES
Gregory E. Sterling, Series Editor
Volume 17
The University of Notre Dame Press gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Jack and Joan Conroy of Naples, Florida, in the publication of titles in this series .
AUGUSTINE
AND THE
CURE OF SOULS
Revising a Classical Ideal
PAUL R. KOLBET
University of Notre Dame Press
Notre Dame, Indiana
Copyright 2010 by University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
All Rights Reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Reprinted in 2013
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kolbet, Paul R.
Augustine and the cure of souls : revising a classical ideal / Paul R. Kolbet
p. cm. - (Christianity and Judaism in antiquity)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-268-03321-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-268-03321-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. I. Title.
BR65.A9K59 2010
253.0937-dc22
2009042050
This book is printed on recycled paper .
ISBN 9780268084752
This e-Book was converted from the original source file by a third-party vendor. Readers who notice any formatting, textual, or readability issues are encouraged to contact the publisher at [e-mail] .
For Amy Egloff
with love and gratitude
Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity Series (CJAS)
The Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity Program at the University of Notre Dame came into existence during the afterglow of the Second Vatican Council. The doctoral program combines the distinct academic disciplines of the Hebrew Bible, Judaism, the New Testament, and the Early Church in an effort to explore the religion of the ancient Hebrews, the diverse forms of Second Temple Judaism, and its offspring into religions of Rabbinic Judaism and the multiple incarnations of early Christianity. While the scope of the program thus extends from the late Bronze and Early Iron Ages to the late antique world, the fulcrum lies in the Second Temple and Early Christian periods. Each religion is explored in its own right, although the program cultivates a History-of-Religions approach that examines their reciprocally illuminating interrelationships and their place in the larger context of the ancient world. During the 1970s a monograph series was launched to reflect and promote the orientation of the program. Initially known as Studies in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity, the series was published under the auspices of the Center of the Study of Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity. Six volumes appeared from 1975 to 1986. In 1988 the series name became Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity as the editorship passed to Charles Kannengiesser, who oversaw the release of nine volumes. Professor Kannengiesser s departure from Notre Dame necessitated the appointment of a new editor. At the same time, the historic connection between the series and the CJA doctoral program was strengthened by the appointment of all CJA faculty to the editorial board. Throughout these institutional permutations, the purpose of the series has continued to be the promotion of research into the origins of Judaism and Christianity with the hope that a better grasp of the common ancestry and relationship of the two world s religions will illuminate not only the ancient world but the modern world as well.
Gregory E. Sterling, Series Editor
Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Rhetoric and Christian Identity in the Roman Empire
Sources and Method
Part One. A Classical Ideal
Chapter One . Classical Therapy: Its Origins, Tasks, and Methods
Psychagogy as a Cultural Ideal
Psychagogy in Its Classical Form
Chapter Two . Hellenistic Refinements
Cures for the Roman Soul
The Psychagogic Value of Ancient Texts
Part Two. Revising and Recontextualizing Classical Therapy
Chapter Three . Augustine s Early Formation
An Ambitious Young Orator
Being Healed by Beautiful Words
Chapter Four . Christianizing Classical Therapy
Christian Philosophy and the Cure of Soul
Christ s Inner and Outer Rhetoric
Chapter Five . A New Context for Classical Therapy
Ordination Crisis
Controversies over the Cure of Soul
Chapter Six . Signs Eliciting Love
Exegetical Integration
Teaching the Uninstructed
Part Three. Augustine s Homiletical Practice
Chapter Seven . The Christian Rhetor
Continuity amid Discontinuity
Critical Skills
Constructive Guidance
Chapter Eight . Therapy and Society
The Incarnate Word and Community
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
A project of this scope is only possible because many people have been exceedingly generous with their time, energy, and expertise. Its best insights have their source in more conversations and readings than I can acknowledge adequately either here or in notes. It was the late Jaroslav Pelikan who first brought to my attention the intriguingly complex relationship between Christianity and the classical world. The personal and scholarly influence of John Cavadini is evident throughout the work. He encouraged me at each point never to lose sight of either Augustine s rhetoric or his theology. Others whose help has been indispensable at critical stages of the work include Brian Daley, S.J., Allan Fitzgerald, Stephen Gersh, Rowan Greer, Carol Harrison, Marina McCoy, Gretchen Reydams-Schils, Gregory Sterling, James Wetzel, and Randall Zachman. Thanks are also due to my colleagues both in the Department of Theology at Boston College-especially Stephen Brown, Boyd Taylor Coolman, Robert Daly, S.J., Charles Hefling, Pheme Perkins, and Stephen Pope-and those in the Boston Area Patristics Group for their collegiality and support. John Slotemaker kindly helped me compile the index. The research and writing were partially funded by a fellowship provided by the J. M. Ormond Center of Duke University and subsequently by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Notre Dame.
Witnessing the failure of his best efforts, Augustine ultimately concluded that divine love was the only true source of resiliency for the human spirit in difficult times. When he was most disheartened by the limitations of his own strength, he admonished himself to be more receptive to the love that penetrated every dark corner of the human heart and was capable of turning even the worst into something with a beauty all its own. In this regard, I am especially grateful for the sustaining love of my wife, Amy Egloff, the wonder of our daughter, Chloe, and for my parents, Robert and Diana Kolbet.
Abbreviations
Series
ANRW
Aufstieg und Niedergang der r mischen Welt (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1972-)
CCL
Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina (Turnhout: Brepols, 1953-)
CSEL
Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum (Vienna: Tempsky, 1865-)
LCL
Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press)
MA
Miscellanea Agostiniana (Rome: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, 1930-1931)
NPNF
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1-2 (Edinburgh, 1886-)
PG
Patrologia Graeca, ed. J.-P. Migne (Paris: 1857-1866)
PL
Patrologia Latina, Cursus Completus, ed. by J.-P. Migne (Paris: 1844-1864)
PLS
Supplement to the Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. A. Hamman (Paris: 1958-1963)
SBLTT
Society of Biblical Literature Texts and Translations
SC
Sources chr tiennes (Paris: Cerf, 1942-)
WSA
The Works of St. Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century , ed. John E. Rotelle (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 1990-)
Ancient Authors and Editions
Alcidamas
Soph .
Peri sophiston (ed. Muir)
Ambrose of Milan
Abr .
De Abraham (CSEL 32.1: 501-638)
bon. mort .
De bono mortis (CSEL 32.1: 703-53)
Cain
De Cain et Abel (CSEL 32.1: 339-409)
ep .
Epistulae (CSEL 82.1-4)
ex .
Exaemeron (CSEL 32.1: 3-261)
expl. symb .
Explanatio symboli ad initiandos (CSEL 73: 1-12)
expos. Ps. cxviii
Expositio Psalmi cxviii (CSEL 62: 53-510)
fid .
De fide ad Gratianum (CSEL 78: 3-307)
fuga
De fuga saeculi (CSEL 32.2: 163-207)
Ios .
De Ioseph (CSEL 32.1: 73-122)
Luc .
Expositio euangelii secundum Lucam (CCL 14: 1-400)
myst .
De mysteriis (SC 25bis)
Nab .
De Nabuthae historiae (CSEL 32.2: 469-516)
off .
De officiis ministrorum (CCL 15)
parad .
De paradiso (CSEL 32.1: 263-336)
sacr .
De sacramentis (SC 25bis)
Apuleius
Apol .
Apologia (Teubner, ed. R. Helm)
Flor .
Florida (Teubner, ed. R. Helm)
Soc .
De Deo Socratis (Teubner, ed. C. Moreschini)
Aristophanes
Au .
Aues (LCL 179)
Aristotle
En .
Ethica Nicomachea (LCL 73)
Metaph .
Metaphysica (LCL 271, 287)
Pol .
Politica (LCL 264)
Rh .
Rhetorica (LCL 193)
Augustine
Acad .
De Academicis libri tres (CCL 29: 3-61)
agon .
De agone christiano liber unus (CSEL 41: 99-138)
an. quant .
De animae quantitate liber unus (CSEL 89: 129-231)
bapt .
De baptismo libri septem (CSEL 51: 143-375)
beata u .
De beata uita liber unus (CCL 29: 65-85)
cat. rud .
De catechizandis rudibus liber unus (CCL 46: 115-78)
ciu .
De ciuitate dei libri uiginti duo (CCL 47-48)
conf .
Confessionum libri tredecim (CCL 27)
cons. eu .
De consensu euangelistarum libri quattuor (CSEL 43)
corrept .
De correptione et gratia liber unus (PL 44: 915-46)
doctr. chr .
De doctrina christiana libri quattuor (CCL 32: 1-167)
en. Ps .
Enarrationes in Psalmos (CCL 38-40)
ep .
Epistulae (CSEL 34.1-2, 44, 57, 58, 88)
ep. Io. tr .
In epistulam Iohannis ad Parthos tractatus decem (SC 75)
c. ep. Man .
Contra epistulam Manichaei quam uocant fundamenti liber unas (CSEL 25.1: 191-248)
c. Faust .
Contra Faustum Manicheum libri triginta tres (CSEL 25.1: 249-797)
f. et symb .
De fide et symbolo liber unus (CSEL 41: 1-32)
gest. Pel .
De gestis Pelagii liber unus (CSEL 42)
Gn. adu. Man .
De Genesi aduersus Manicheos libri duo (CSEL 91)
gr. et pecc. or .