About this title: B'There are certain rules for interpreting the scriptures which, as I am well aware, can usefully be passed on to those with an appetite for such study...' On Christian Teaching is one of Augustine's most important works on the classical tradition. Written to enable Christian students to be their own interpreters of the Bible, it provides an outline of Christian theology, a detailed discussion of ethical problems, and a fascinating early contribution to sign theory. Augustine also makes a systematic attempt to determine what elements of classical education are permissible for a Christian, and ...
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Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1999-09-16
ISBN-13:9780192839282ISBN:0192839284
Description: Good. This is a 1999 softcover. Minimal shelf wear. Subtle age tanning to pages. use of pen underlining on about five pages; everything remains easily legible and securely bound. A good book overall. Daily shipping. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780192839282ISBN:0192839284
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Near very good, tightly bound, and moderately flexible, little edge wear, cover lifts a tiny bit. Pages clean, age-toned a little. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 208 p. Oxford World's Classics (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Oxford Univ Pr
Date Published: 2008-06-15
ISBN-13:9780199540631ISBN:0199540632
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780199540631. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780199540631ISBN:0199540632
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 208 pages. On christian teaching (or de doctrina christiana) is one of augustine's most important works on the christian tradition. undertaken at the same time as the confessions, it was written to enable students of christianity to be their own interpreters of the bible. in so doing augustine provides an outline of christian theology, a detailed discussion of ethical problems, and a fascinating early contribution to sign theory. he also makes a systematic attempt to ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press (United Kingdom)
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780199540631ISBN:0199540632
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 196 High by 129 Wide by 10 deep in mm. (208) b'there are certain rules for interpreting the scriptures which, as i am well aware, can usefully be passed on to those with an appetite for such study...' on christian teaching is one of augustine's most important works on the classical tradition. written to enable christian students to be their own interpreters of the bible, it provides an outline of christian theology, a detailed discussion of ethical problems, and a ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780199540631ISBN:0199540632
Description: New. On Christian Teaching (or De Doctrina Christiana) is one of Augustine's most important works on the Christian tradition. Undertaken at the same time as the Confessions, it was written to enable students of Christianity to be their own inter... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford Univ Pr
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780199540631ISBN:0199540632
Description: New. The De Doctrina Christiana ("On Christian Teaching") is one of Augustine's most important works on the classical tradition. Undertaken at the same time as the Confessions, it sheds light on the development of Augustine's thought, especially in the ar... read more
Description: New. DISPATCHED FROM UNITED KINGDOM. NO EXPEDITED SHIPPING! Please note orders are confirmed immediately and may take 2-3 business days to ship. This processing time is in addition to the shipping time. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery. Brand new item. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: G20091208052849D. read more
"Excellent! The bandage must fit the wound. Because the fall happened by the deception speech of the serpent, so our salvation happens by the foolishness of preaching. Through words were were damned, through words we are saved. Thus Augustine explores the vast oceans of speech and all that is them is. There are some dull parts (grammar and punctuation), but that happens when classical mind moves from the great leviathans of this ocean to a detailed biopsy of the troglodytes at this oceans bottom. But as a whole it is marvelous. Point of interest. In book one is Anselm's ontological argument. All the greatest writers are Plagiarists. Ad fontes eh."
"On Christian Doctrine is the first work of Augustine's I've ever finished. The reading group I'm in read the first two sections as a launching point for our discussion of myth and symbol, and I decided to finish the whole thing. The book is essentially a primer on how to read the Bible and then, in the fourth section, how to present the knowledge attained therein.
All in all, On Christian Doctrine is a very solid, though basic, examination of symbol, hermeneutics and eloquence. I like Augustine's principle exegetical rule (partially, I must confess, because I've thought of a similar thing myself) which states that the interpretation of scripture should always be one that leads to the love of God and/or others since Jesus said "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Mathew 22: 37-40).
However, I found myself occasionally annoyed and distracted when Augustine chose to voice his opinions on sexuality (it is only for procreation in his mind) and am indeed not a fan of his general asceticism. Mind you, I do believe there is a place for ascetic practices (I'm a fan of Dallas Willard after all) but I think they are always for training. It seems to me that Augustine believes in asceticism because of some platonic aversion to creation, but I could be wrong.
I also found the last section difficult at times because it relied very heavily on Greco-Roman theory about rhetoric, and thus frequently used terms with which I am not familiar. Of course, were I wanting to do a more in depth study of that section, I could easily do some reading on that theory, and it's certainly not a fault of the book itself. In essence though, Augustine says that eloquence is good, but wisdom is better. If you can have both, than do, but if you have to choose, choose wisdom.
All in all, this book is a good introduction to the reading of scripture and those interested in the thoughts of the church fathers should pick it up."
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