Augustine and the Trinity

A new treatment of Augustine's highly influential theology of the Trinity, challenging the long-held assumption that he over-emphasized God's unity.

Lewis Ayres (Author)

9781107689282, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 January 2014

376 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.5 kg

'… Ayres provides scholars of early Christian thought with an important work that will serve as a basic point of orientation for anyone venturing onto this difficult theological terrain.' Doug Finn, The Thomist

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) strongly influenced western theology, but he has often been accused of over-emphasizing the unity of God to the detriment of the Trinity. In Augustine and the Trinity, Lewis Ayres offers a new treatment of this important figure, demonstrating how Augustine's writings offer one of the most sophisticated early theologies of the Trinity developed after the Council of Nicaea (325). Building on recent research, Ayres argues that Augustine was influenced by a wide variety of earlier Latin Christian traditions which stressed the irreducibility of Father, Son and Spirit. Augustine combines these traditions with material from non-Christian Neoplatonists in a very personal synthesis. Ayres also argues that Augustine shaped a powerful account of Christian ascent toward understanding of, as well as participation in the divine life, one that begins in faith and models itself on Christ's humility.

Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. Origins: 1. Giving wings to Nicaea
2. Through Him, with Him and in Him
3. Faith of our fathers: De fide et symbolo
Part II. Ascent: 4. The unadorned Trinity
Excursus 1: The dating of the De trinitate
5. Per corporalia … ad incorporalia
6. A Christological epistemology
Excursus 2: Polemical targets in the De trinitate
Part III. Into the Mystery: 7. Recommending the source
8. Essence from essence
9. Showing, seeing and loving
10. Loving and being
Part IV. Memory, Intelligence and Will: 11. 'But it's not fur eatin'…'
12. '… It's just fur lookin' through'
Epilogue: catching all three
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Theology [HRLB], Christian theology [HRCM], History of religion [HRAX], Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Religion: general [HRA], Religion & beliefs [HR]