The Confessions [Paperback]

 

 

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Augustine on Augustine, philosophy, sex, science, skepticism, scholarship, rhetoric, vanity, humility, foolishness, wisdom, reason, the human perspective, exegetics, time, and the attributes of God. 'Confessions' is truly one of the great works of western literature and the [Oxford World's Classics] translation by Henry Chadwick beautifully retains this literary quality (and is extensively and helpfully footnoted). Written and published circa 398-400 AD, Augustine's autobiographic Confessions is an important theological treatise. It is also historically significant in its revelation of a faltering Roman society and of the convergent thinking of Judeo-Christian theology and neo-Platonic philosophy. While many of the discussions are centered on a culture from which we are 1600 years removed, they are surprisingly relevant to a western society that we see is not so different.
Very interesting are Augustine's discussions of the physical characteristics and boundaries of 'time' -- in fact since about 1930, our 'scientific' understanding of time is, in some important aspects, identical to Augustine's. This is a subject with which every theist should be familiar ['time' is on their side, so to speak], yet, like others more concerned with what's on TV tonight, most are woefully ignorant. Of further interest (from the standpoint of apologetics) is Augustine's destruction of "linguistic paradoxes" which atheists and agnostics claimed (and still do claim) to prove God's non-existence. These arguments, which Augustine calls "jokes", must be waged against an erroneous characterization of "god". The arguments defeat only a temporally bounded "god", a humanized 'smarty-pants' version of God, which is something that, by definition, God is certainly not. The supposed 'paradox' arguments prove merely that no human-like being could be God, that nothing fully contained by space-time could be God, that no finite consciousness could be infinite (i.e., omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and unchanging). In other words: not God equals not God. That humans pose such feeble arguments against God, and think them profound, is an example of what Augustine calls "learned ignorance."
Augustine's exegesis of Genesis 1 is very well considered, and supported, and varies vastly from so-called literalist interpretations. Much like Philo 400 years earlier, Augustine concludes that the language of Genesis 1 is carefully constructed so as to make a fully "literal" understanding of Creation unknowable. Although less than is its Creator, the acts of Creation are a wonderful mystery beyond "slower minds." While he clearly holds scripture to be without error, Augustine says that error-prone human minds are quick to over-simplify, misunderstand, and misrepresent the mysteries of an infinite God so far beyond the minds of men. Augustine understands Genesis 1 as both an introductory and advanced study of theology, and not as a text for 'Creation Science'. He points out that if references to God Himself in Genesis 1 are interpreted as literal descriptions, we must accept within the text ideas about God which cannot be reconciled to reason or Biblical theology. These relational references to God require spiritual and not physically literal understanding or else we must accept God to be bounded in space and time, a sloppy theology which cannot be reconciled to the scriptural Deity. By contrast, a spiritual [as opposed to a 'scientific'] interpretation, illuminates the nature of being and the will of "the One." Augustine says that any exegesis but that of spiritual allegory is fraught with logical difficulty within the theology of scripture and without. Aware of the depth of many Christian's commitment to what they consider to be a literal interpretation of these texts, he states that his only desire is to seek Truth and that he does not wish to quarrel or debate, as no sincere interpretation fails to acknowledge the primacy, sovereignty, and grace of the Creator. No sincere exegetic stands in conflict with the teachings of Christ -- however, conflict over interpretation is an exercise in the vanities of humans trying to prove they are "right" and such conflict might easily violate Christ's commandment of Love. He cites 5 different interpretations of Genesis 1:1 and asks seekers of truth to bring humility, not pride or comfort or esteem for popular ideas or religious traditions to the study of scripture. "Spiritual persons ... exercise spiritual judgment," says Augustine, and not "notions which they hold because of their familiarity with the fleshy order of things." While the "literalist" exegesis tends to claim that its alternative is to reject the inspiration of scripture and perhaps the very existence of the Creator, the "spiritual" exegetic holds the Creator and His works, including divine inspiration, to be beyond logical refutation, beyond human vanity, perhaps beyond human understanding, causing, and then entering space-time and the material world from [infinitely] without. Eight centuries later, Aquinas was to express a similar exegesis of Genesis 1.
In Augustine, we find a man confronted with error: that of others, and his own shortcomings as well. We find a man much like David or Solomon; a burning intellect certain of its own inadequacy and "hungering and thirsting" for Truth. A prolific writer, Augustine is one of the most influential thinkers in western history, his thoughts being important to any study of theology, philosophy, or cosmology. His Confessions is the story of a prominent [African] Roman educator's spiritual journey to Christianity, and has been rightly called "a masterpiece beyond classification."

I first came across St. Augustine's "Confessions" when I was a freshman in college. It was a monumental experience in terms of both the content of his writing and the freshness and relevance of his writing style. After re-reading them again recently, I am still struck with how contemporary the book feels. Aside from many of its 4th century particularities, the concerns that St. Augustine had and the way he frankly and honestly dealt with them could be lifted from almost any contemporary tell-all autobiography. The biggest exception is the fact that "Confessions" is a quintessentially and irreducibly a religious text, and in an age when religious considerations are largely pushed towards the margins of their life stories, it is refreshing and uplifting to see what would a life look like for someone who took them very seriously and committed himself to reorganizing one's whole life around the idea of serving God wholly and uncompromisingly. "Confessions" is a very accessible text, and for the most part it does not deal with theological and philosophical issues. The exception is the latter part of the book, which are almost exclusively dedicated to those topics. You may want to skip those at the first reading, but I would encourage you to read them nevertheless. Maybe the very inspiring and uplifting story of St. Augustine's conversion to Christianity can lead you into deeper considerations about your faith or the meaning of life in general. I cannot think of a better introduction to those topics than "Confessions," nor of a better guide than St. Augustine.

This is a very nice translation of Augustine's work. In the text itself, there are footnotes to further explain certian facts (like Augustine mentioning an acient ref. to Plato or something). Also, it puts Biblical references in quotations for things that Augustine writes - all in all, I am very satisfied with this version of Augustine's work, and would highly recommend it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless classic
If only I could read Latin.

Augustine is revered by both Catholics and Protestants. God had gifted Augustine with many gifts: Linguist, Orator, Philosopher. Read more

Published on Nov 20 2002 by T. Noyes

5.0 out of 5 stars Confessions, by St. Augustine
Augustine presents his work, Confessions, as both an autobiography and a theological study of the Bible. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2002 by Craig Vandergoot

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and Powerful
This book is much much more than just an autobiography of Augustine and his road to the Christian faith. Read more

Published on Jan 21 2002 by Bethany McKinney

2.0 out of 5 stars Victims Don't Count
He gets a girl pregnant, moves in with her for 15 years, and gets the urge to wander. He keeps his son, dumps the girl, and joins the church as Mommy desires. Read more

Published on Dec 3 2001 by Peter L. Swiinford

5.0 out of 5 stars poetic, inspiring words while keeping true to the latin
Chadwick is both able to keep the meaning of the orginial latin and able to keep the rhythm of Augustine's poetic words. Read more

Published on Oct 31 2001 by Mona Parikh

5.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual journey
This is simply one of the greatest Christian books of all time! You do not have to be Catholic to appreciate St. Augustine's journey to the Christian faith.

Published on Oct 18 2001 by kenton@internetwork.net

5.0 out of 5 stars Positively Gorgeous
No other words for me to try to describe it, but moving, gorgeous, and utterly real. The most exquisite piece of literature or philosophy I've ever encountered as an avid reader... Read more

Published on April 4 1999

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