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On Christian Doctrine- St. Augustine On Christian Doctrine, In Four Books By St. Augustine ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, IN FOUR BOOKS by St. Augustine This book is in the public domain. It is not copyrighted. Formatted into E-text on March 1, 1998 1 On Christian Doctrine, In Four Books By St. Augustine INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR The four books of St. Augustine On Christian book, I made a mistake as to the authorship of the Doctrine (De Doctrina Christiana, iv libri) are a book commonly called the Wisdom of Solomon. commend of exegetical theology to guide the For I have since learnt that it is not a well- reader in the understanding and interpretation of established fact, as I said it was, that Jesus the the Sacred Scriptures, according to the analogy of son of Sirach, who wrote the book of faith. The first three books were written A. D. Ecclesiasticus, wrote this book also: on the 397; the fourth was added 426. contrary, I have ascertained that it is altogether more probable that he was not the author of this He speaks of it in his Retractations, Bk. 2, chap. book. Again, when I said, 'The authority of the 4, as follows: Old Testament is contained within the limits of "Finding that the books on Christian Doctrine these forty-four books,' I used the phrase 'Old were not finished, I thought it better to complete Testament' in accordance with ecclesiastical them before passing on to the revision of others. usage. But the apostle seems to restrict the Accordingly, I completed the third book, which application of the name 'Old Testament' to the law had been written as far as the place where a which was given on Mount Sinai. And in what I quotation is made from the Gospel about the said as to St. Ambrose having, by his knowledge woman who took leaven and hid it in three of chronology, solved a great difficulty, when he measures of meal till the whole was leavened.' I showed that Plato and Jeremiah were added also the last book, and finished the whole contemporaries, my memory betrayed me. What work in four books [in the year 426]: the first that great bishop really did say upon this subject three affording aids to the interpretation of may be seen in the book which he wrote, 'On Scripture, the last giving directions as to the mode Sacraments or Philosophy.'" of making known our interpretation. In the second CONTENTS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Preface, showing the utility of the treatise on Christian doctrine highest good and our true happiness. We are BOOK I. Containing a prevented by our sins from enjoying God; and general view of the subjects that our sins might be taken away, "The Word was made Flesh," our Lord suffered, and died, treated in Holy Scripture. and rose again, and ascended into heaven, taking to Himself as his bride the Church, in which we The author divides his work into two parts, one receive remission of our sins. And if our sins are relating to the discovery, the other to the remitted and our souls renewed by grace, we may expression, of the true sense of Scripture. He await with hope the resurrection of the body to shows that to discover the meaning we must eternal glory; if not, we shall be raised to attend both to things and to signs, as it is everlasting punishment. These matters relating to necessary to know what things we ought to teach faith having been expounded, the author goes on to the Christian people, and also the signs of these to show that all objects, except God, are for use; things, that is, where the knowledge of these for, though some of them may be loved, yet our things is to be sought. In this first book he treats love is not to rest in them, but to have reference to of things, which he divides into three classes,-- God. And we ourselves are not objects of things to be enjoyed, things to be used, and things enjoyment to God: he uses us, but for our own which use and enjoy. The only object which advantage. He then goes on to show that love--the ought to be enjoyed is the Triune God, who is our 2 On Christian Doctrine, In Four Books By St. Augustine love of God for His own sake and the love of our reference to the original tongue. In the case of neighbour for God's sake--is the fulfillment and figurative signs we need to guard against two the end of all Scripture. After adding a few words mistakes:--1. the interpreting literal expressions about hope, he shows, in conclusion, that faith, figuratively; 2. the interpreting figurative hope, and love are graces essentially necessary for expressions literally. The author lays down rules him who would understand and explain aright the by which we may decide whether an expression is Holy Scriptures. literal or figurative; the general rule being, that whatever can be shown to be in its literal sense inconsistent either with purity of life or BOOK II. correctness of doctrine must be taken figuratively. He then goes on to lay down rules for the Having completed his exposition of things, the interpretation of expressions which have been author now proceeds to discuss the subject of proved to be figurative; the general principle signs. He first defines what a sign is, and shows being, that no interpretation can be true which that there are two classes of signs, the natural and does not promote the love of God and the love of the conventional. Of conventional signs (which man. The author then proceeds to expound and are the only class here noticed), words are the illustrate the seven rules of Tichonius the most numerous and important, and are those with Donatist, which he commends to the attention of which the interpreter of Scripture is chiefly the student of Holy Scripture. concerned. The difficulties and obscurities of Scripture spring chiefly from two sources, unknown and ambiguous signs. The present book BOOK IV. deals only with unknown signs, the ambiguities of language being reserved for treatment in the Passing to the second part of his work, that which next book. The difficulty arising from ignorance treats of expression, the author premises that it is of signs is to be removed by learning the Greek no part of his intention to write a treatise on the and Hebrew languages, in which Scripture is laws of rhetoric. These can be learned elsewhere, written, by comparing the various translations, and ought not to be neglected, being indeed and by attending to the context. In the specially necessary for the Christian teacher, interpretation of figurative expressions, whom it behoves to excel in eloquence and power knowledge of things is as necessary as knowledge of speech. After detailing with much care and of words; and the various sciences and arts of the minuteness the various qualities of an orator, he heathen, so far as they are true and useful, may be recommends the authors of the Holy Scriptures as turned to account in removing our ignorance of the best models of eloquence, far excelling all signs, whether these be direct or figurative. others in the combination of eloquence with Whilst exposing the folly and futility of many wisdom. He points out that perspicuity is the most heathen superstitions and practices, the author essential quality of style, and ought to be points out how all that is sound and useful in their cultivated with especial care by the teacher, as it is science and philosophy may be turned to a the main requisite for instruction, although other Christian use. And in conclusion, he shows the qualities are required for delighting and spirit in which it behoves us to address ourselves persuading the hearer. All these gifts are to be to the study and interpretation of the sacred sought in earnest prayer from God, though we are books. not to forget to be zealous and diligent in study. He shows that there are three species of style,--the subdued, the elegant, and the majestic; the first BOOK III. serving for instruction, the second for praise, and the third for exhortation: and of each of these he The author, having discussed in the preceding gives examples, selected both from Scripture and book the method of dealing with unknown signs, from early teachers of the Church, Cyprian and goes on in this third book to treat of ambiguous Ambrose. He shows that these various styles may signs. Such signs may be either direct or be mingled, and when and for what purposes they figurative. In the case of direct signs ambiguity are mingled; and that they all have the same end in may arise from the punctuation, the view, to bring home the truth to the hearer, so that pronunciation, or the doubtful signification of the he may understand it, hear it with gladness, and words, and is to be resolved by attention to the practice it in his life. Finally, he exhorts the context, a comparison of translations, or a Christian teacher himself, pointing out the dignity 3 On Christian Doctrine, In Four Books By St. Augustine and responsibility of the office he holds, to lead a show a good example to all. life in harmony with his own teaching, and to 4 On Christian Doctrine, In Four Books By St. Augustine ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 3. To reply briefly to all these. To those who Preface do not understand what is here set down, my answer is, that I am not to be blamed for their want of understanding.
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