Ed Smither
  • About
  • Posts
  • Media
  • Books
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • Popular Essays
  • Schedule

Ed Smither | Making Progress

Review of The Theology of Augustine

7/3/2013

 
Picture
The Theology of Augustine: An Introductory Guide to His Most Important Works is the most recent book from Matthew Levering, professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton. In this work, Levering, a prolific scholar, has produced a thorough but concise introduction to some of Augustine’s key writings.
                
Aside from a brief introduction and conclusion, Levering has organized the book into seven chapters corresponding to seven of Augustine’s chief works that, according to Levering, frame the major components of the African father's theology:
  • He begins with On Christian Doctrine in an effort to lay out Augustine’s hermeneutics—the key to understanding much of Augustine’s preaching, biblical commentaries, and theology.
  • In Answer to Faustus, the Manichean, Levering discusses this work that illustrates Augustine’s first great theological controversy with the Manicheans, a group that Augustine himself was a part for nearly a decade.
  • Levering chooses Homilies on the First Epistle of John in part to show his preaching in the context of the Donatist controversy. 
  • On the Predestination of the Saints, of course shows Augustine’s theologizing in the Pelagian context—Augustine’s third great theological controversy. 
  • Through Confessions, arguably Augustine’s most famous work, we get a sense of Augustine’s journey to and in faith in Christ.
  • In City of God, Levering discusses this other best-known work by Augustine, especially Augustine’s grasp of a Roman pagan thought and worldview and a Christian understanding of history.
  • Finally, Levering treats Augustine’s challenging work The Trinity, where Augustine explores the doctrine of God.

Levering is a trusted guide through these key works by Augustine. He clarifies the key themes in each work while presenting them in their historical context. 

On the other hand, the subtitle is probably the more appropriate title as this book is an introduction to the literature of Augustine more than a synthesis of Augustine’s theology, which is what one might expect from such a title. The title and book structure seem to imply that one can walk away with a handle on Augustine’s theology from the seven works discussed. However, Levering’s survey did not really treat Augustine’s monastic or pastoral theology, and in my view, his Homilies on First John did not go far enough to lay out the Donatist issue and Augustine’s ecclesiology.

As I read Augustine, much of his theology is revealed through sermons, letters, and bits and pieces in other works. So, while I really appreciate what Levering has done, if I were assigning this book for an introduction to Augustine course, I would probably fill in these gaps by adding Harmless’ reader Augustine in His Own Words, which also includes some nice introduction to and commentary on Augustine’s writing. All said, I highly recommend this well-written, thorough and accessible book, especially to first-time readers of Augustine.

    Archives

    January 2023
    February 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About
  • Posts
  • Media
  • Books
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • Popular Essays
  • Schedule