Augustine on election : the birth of an article of faith

The doctrine of divine election is part of the heritage of Western Christianity. Discussions in the reformed tradition point to the older Augustine as the one who developed the doctrine of double predestination in the controversy with the semi-Pelagians. The thesis of this study is that the birth of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa theologica Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 54 - 73
Main Author De Boer, Erik A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bloemfontein University of the Free State 01.12.2012
University of the Free State Faculty of Theology
Subjects
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
Christianity
Confessions
God
Jesus Christ
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Teaching
Theology
Traditions
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Summary:The doctrine of divine election is part of the heritage of Western Christianity. Discussions in the reformed tradition point to the older Augustine as the one who developed the doctrine of double predestination in the controversy with the semi-Pelagians. The thesis of this study is that the birth of this doctrine can be found in the writings of the young Augustine in the early years of his episcopacy. Personal explorations into St. Paul's letter to the Romans and written questions from Simplician of Milan prompted him to write on Chapter 9. Augustine's reading of Romans 9 is compared with the preceding works of Marius Victorinus and Ambrosiaster. The account of Augustine's conversion in his Confessiones document indicates his involvement in Romans. Especially his Ad Simplicianum documents "a veritable revolution in his theology" towards a fully developed doctrine of grace. The concept of God's foreknowledge of human acts no longer sufficed to understand the diverse fates of the twins Esau and Jacob.
ISSN:1015-8758
1015-8758
2309-9089
DOI:10.4314/actat.v32i2.4