Renewing Christian Wisdom for the Church | The Davenant ...



Augustine: The Major WorksDr Matthew J J HoskinOverviewSt Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is the greatest theologian of western/Latin Christianity, in terms both of the breadth of his thought and of his influence. His theology is foundational for Protestants as well as Roman Catholics, influencing not only the whole mediaeval tradition but Martin Luther, John Calvin, Richard Hooker, the collects of the Book of Common Prayer, Robert Bellarmine, and Teresa of Avila among many others. Even John Wesley, who famously rejected Augustine’s doctrine of predestination, cites Augustine more than any other church father. Not only this, he is also the ancient Latin writer with the largest surviving body of writings. This course will examine his major works, both in terms of size and influence, and close with a look at the doctrine for which he is most famous, predestination. The goal is to understand Augustine on his own terms but with the aim of seeing him better for today.Course FormatEach week will consist of two hours of teaching time. One hour will consist of a lecture outlining the history and theology involved, and the second hour will consist of a discussion of assigned readings. A weekly blog will be used to stimulate discussion and thinking in advance. Each student is expected to write at least one blog post on an assigned reading; the blog posts will be graded.Course schedule - Page numbers for readings come from Dr Hoskin’s preferred translations listed below.WeekDateTopicReading1April 12-16Introduction; Confessions I-VConfessions I-V (pp. 3-89)2April 19-23Confessions VI-XIIIConfessions VI-IX (pp. 90-178)3April 26-30On Christian TeachingRead the whole text4May 3-7On the Trinity 1-4The Trinity Book 1 (pp. 65-96); Book 2.4-7 (pp. 109-122); Book 4.Pr.-1 (pp. 152-157) and 4.5 (pp. 171-177)5May 10-14On the Trinity 5-9The Trinity Books 5, 6, 7 (pp. 189-232); Book 9 (270-280)6May 17-23On the Trinity 10-15The Trinity Book 12 (pp. 322-337); Book 14 (pp. 370-392); Book 15.Pr.-1 (pp. 395-399) and 15.6-Epilogue (pp. 426-437)7May 24-28Sermon commentary dueCity of God 1-10City of God Book 1 (pp. 5-47); Book 4.1-2 (pp. 135-137); Book 5.21-26 (pp. 215-224); Book 8.1-14 (pp. 298-319)8May 31 – June 4City of God 11-14City of God Book 11.1-10 (pp. 429-442); Book 12.22-28 (pp. 502-509); Book 13 (pp. 510-546); Book 14.1-15 (pp. 547-577)9June 7-11City of God 15-22City of God Book 18.46-51 (pp. 827-835); Book 20.1-7, 10, 16-21 (pp. 895-910, 918-919, 927-943); Book 22 (pp. 1022-1091)10June 14-18Predestination/ PelagianismNature and Grace and The Predestination of the Saints TextbooksAll of the assigned works are available online for free. Recommended translations for purchase are listed below:Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Trans. Henry Chadwick. Oxford, 1991.---. On Christian Teaching. Trans. R. P. H. Green. Oxford, 2008.---. The Trinity. Trans. Edmund Hill. Hyde Park, NY, 2012.---. City of God. Trans. Henry Bettenson. London, 2004.---. Selected Writings on Grace and Pelagianism. Trans. Roland Teske. Hyde Park, NY, 2011.You are encouraged to read at least one modern study of St Augustine:Brown, Peter. Augustine of Hippo. Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2000.Chadwick, Henry. Augustine: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, 2001.O’Donnell, James J. Augustine: A New Biography. New York, 2009.Grading and ExpectationsParticipation: 5%Blog post: 10%Sermon commentary (due class of week 7): 30%Research Essay (due June 25): 55%ParticipationEvery student is expected to do the readings, log in to the lectures, and participate in the discussions. The aim of this course is to think critically about St Augustine and his thought, so your presence is required to achieve this aim.Blog postEach student will be required to write a short, 600-word blog post about one weekly reading. The blog post is meant to provoke thought and discussion and is neither informal nor meant to be a full, academic essay. Sermon commentary 1000 wordsEach student will choose one of Augustine’s sermons. The sermon will be analysed as a sermon in a commentary style, considering both the content (exegetical, theological, philosophical, moral, ethical, etc.) and the delivery. Due class of week 7.Research Essay 3500 wordsYou are required to undertake a research project on one of the texts discussed in class. Each student is to create a worthy research question and get it approved by Dr Hoskin before embarking on writing the essay. Due June 25. ................
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