1st Edition
The Spirit of Augustine's Early Theology Contextualizing Augustine's Pneumatology
St Augustine's pneumatology remains one of his most distinctive, decisive, and ultimately divisive contributions to the story of Christian thought. How did his understanding of the Spirit develop? Why does he identity the Spirit with divine love and cosmic order? And from what personal and literary sources did he receive inspiration? This examination of Augustine's pneumatology - the first book-length study of this important topic available - seeks answers in Augustine's earliest extant writings, penned during the years surrounding his famed return to the Catholic Church and the height of his efforts to synthesize Catholic theology and the Platonic philosophy of his day which had postulated a divine 'trinity' of its own. Careful analysis of these initial texts casts fresh light upon Augustine's more mature and well-known theology of the Holy Spirit while also illuminating on-going discussions about his early thought such as the nature and extent of his Platonic sympathies and the possibility that the recent convert remained committed to the divinity of the human soul.
Biography
Chad Tyler Gerber is Assistant Professor of Theology, Walsh University, USA.
'... the volume presents a convincing and balanced picture of the young Augustine’s evolving Pneumatology with a great deal of careful analysis of the texts. Although Gerber rightly stresses the influence of Augustine’s Catholic teachers in the church of Milan, he does so without dismissing the obvious Neoplatonic influences that others have perhaps overemphasized. The volume is a significant contribution to our understanding of Augustine’s early theology of Spirit.' Theological Studies ’With extensive footnotes, bibliography, and index, Gerber’s The Spirit of Augustine’s Early Theology: Early Theology: Contextualizing Augustine’s Pneumatology should serve well as a resource for scholars and serious students of historical theology and of Augustinian pneumatology. I highly recommend it!’ The Pneuma Review 'The Spirit of Augustine’s Early Theology is a helpful book that illuminates the way in which Augustine deepens his understanding of God. It successfully argues for continuity within Augustine’s pneumatology. One might say the ancient theologian continually organized the pieces of a puzzle he knew well, all the while adding new pieces as soon as he realized their worth. Gerber’s own consideration of the Spirit as the love of God in Augustine’s earlier work admirably helps modern scholars organize our understanding of Augustine’s thought and even adds a few new pieces to our puzzle.' The Marginalia Review of Books 'Augustine's theology prior to his becoming Bishop of Hippo has a much more optimistic, philosophical character than his later writings which were directed against various heresies. He tends to be remembered more for his teaching about original sin and grace mediated through Christ than for what he has to say about the Holy Spirit. Chad Gerber has produced an excellent corrective to such assumptions by focusing on his earlier writings, with particular attention to the neglected topic of his pneumatology.' Parergon ’...clear
