Augustine without a Theodicy of a Condemning God
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Willibald Sandler
Abstract
Augustine’s reading of Romans 9 radically transformed his theology. In Ad Simplicianum (397) he developed a new understanding of grace and freedom together with original sin and predestination, laying the foundations for his later anti-Pelagian theology. This theological transformation, however, is marred by a fatal misunderstanding of Rom 9. A misguided “theodicy of a condemning God” threw Augustine’s theology into an imbalance that led contemporary liberal theologians to reject his theological system and the Church’s teaching on it as a whole. This thesis is supported by an examination of recent exegesis on Romans 9-11, as well as a theological analysis of Simplician and Augustine’s earlier Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans. The liberal criticism of Kurt Flasch and Thomas Propper is thus partially confirmed. However, the polarising dilemma posed by Flasch between an irresponsible eclectic reception and a complete rejection of Augustine’s theology based on the Simplician by contemporary dogmatics is rejected. Instead, a third way of a transformative reception is methodically developed. Finally, a possible path for such a transformative reception of Augustine, based on a proper understanding of Romans 9, is outlined.
Abstract
Augustine’s reading of Romans 9 radically transformed his theology. In Ad Simplicianum (397) he developed a new understanding of grace and freedom together with original sin and predestination, laying the foundations for his later anti-Pelagian theology. This theological transformation, however, is marred by a fatal misunderstanding of Rom 9. A misguided “theodicy of a condemning God” threw Augustine’s theology into an imbalance that led contemporary liberal theologians to reject his theological system and the Church’s teaching on it as a whole. This thesis is supported by an examination of recent exegesis on Romans 9-11, as well as a theological analysis of Simplician and Augustine’s earlier Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans. The liberal criticism of Kurt Flasch and Thomas Propper is thus partially confirmed. However, the polarising dilemma posed by Flasch between an irresponsible eclectic reception and a complete rejection of Augustine’s theology based on the Simplician by contemporary dogmatics is rejected. Instead, a third way of a transformative reception is methodically developed. Finally, a possible path for such a transformative reception of Augustine, based on a proper understanding of Romans 9, is outlined.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Foreword VII
- Scripture and Theology in Context: An Introduction 1
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Part 1: Scripture and the Web of Meanings
- An Anthropological Analysis of Ezekiel 13:17–21 35
- Messiahs and Redeemer Figures in Postexilic Texts 57
- Early Divine Christology: Scripture, Narrativity and Confession in Luke-Acts 89
- Why is the New Testament Called “New Testament”? 119
- Disassembling Provenance: Origin Stories and Why They Matter for Scripture 149
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Part 2: The Bible at Work: Historical Case Studies
- Power Dynamics in the Preached Word: A Fourth Century Case Study 165
- Augustine without a Theodicy of a Condemning God 195
- Philosophy in Aquinas’ Exegetical Work and Its Meta-Theological Implications 235
- Hamann between Luther and Hume 261
- Let Everything that Hath Breath Praise the Lord 283
- The Divine Forwards: Karl Barth’s Early Exegesis of the Pauline Epistles 305
- Karl Rahner’s Use of the Bible 327
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Part 3: Informing Theological Discourse: Systematic Perspectives
- Canonical Theology, Social Location and the Search for Global Theological Method 345
- Quadriga without Platonism 375
- Reinventing the Quadriga 397
- The Theological Art of Scriptural Interpretation: Lessons from von Balthasar 415
- The Holy Scriptures as a Recognition- and Witnessing-Authority 433
- The Relationship of Scripture and Tradition in the Light of God’s Revelation 453
- Deriving Theology from Scripture 473
- List of Contributors 487
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Foreword VII
- Scripture and Theology in Context: An Introduction 1
-
Part 1: Scripture and the Web of Meanings
- An Anthropological Analysis of Ezekiel 13:17–21 35
- Messiahs and Redeemer Figures in Postexilic Texts 57
- Early Divine Christology: Scripture, Narrativity and Confession in Luke-Acts 89
- Why is the New Testament Called “New Testament”? 119
- Disassembling Provenance: Origin Stories and Why They Matter for Scripture 149
-
Part 2: The Bible at Work: Historical Case Studies
- Power Dynamics in the Preached Word: A Fourth Century Case Study 165
- Augustine without a Theodicy of a Condemning God 195
- Philosophy in Aquinas’ Exegetical Work and Its Meta-Theological Implications 235
- Hamann between Luther and Hume 261
- Let Everything that Hath Breath Praise the Lord 283
- The Divine Forwards: Karl Barth’s Early Exegesis of the Pauline Epistles 305
- Karl Rahner’s Use of the Bible 327
-
Part 3: Informing Theological Discourse: Systematic Perspectives
- Canonical Theology, Social Location and the Search for Global Theological Method 345
- Quadriga without Platonism 375
- Reinventing the Quadriga 397
- The Theological Art of Scriptural Interpretation: Lessons from von Balthasar 415
- The Holy Scriptures as a Recognition- and Witnessing-Authority 433
- The Relationship of Scripture and Tradition in the Light of God’s Revelation 453
- Deriving Theology from Scripture 473
- List of Contributors 487
