For the love of God: An analysis of the hermeneutical principles, and practices, and their development, in Augustine's On Christian Teaching, The Spirit and the Letter, The Literal Meaning of Genesis and The Enchiridion

Abstract

In the history of western thought, few people are more influential than Augustine. His thought continues to impact theology, philosophy and politics, amongst other subjects, some sixteen hundred years after his death. It has been said that all western theology is a footnote to Augustine, and this is difficult to argue with. He is a man of great intellect and influence, who spoke of Scripture as the “supreme authority” (The Literal Meaning of Genesis, 4.14.25). That is why it is of interest to study how this great thinker interpreted Scripture. Augustine was not a biblical specialist like his contemporaries, Jerome or Origen. But the theological concern in his exegesis has made him a popular resource for recent biblical theologians. When asking any question of hermeneutics, the appeal of Augustine is that he reads Scripture primarily as a theologian, raising important theological questions