Fall 2018 / Pasadena

TH522

Thompson

TH522: AUGUSTINE AS BELIEVER, PASTOR, THEOLOGIAN (4 Units: 170 hours). John L. Thompson.

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DESCRIPTION: While Augustine can justly be claimed to belong to many strands of the Christian tradition in the West, he is of special significance to Protestants. A hundred years ago, B.B. Warfield wrote that “it is Augustine who gave us the Reformation”—a claim seemingly ratified by Calvin himself when he exclaimed that “Augustine is all ours!” This class will focus on selected topics in Augustine that have proved to be of special interest also to Protestants and their heirs: biblical interpretation, ecclesi­olo­gy, sacraments, church/state, politics/ethics, and the doctrines of justification, predestination, and free will — all within the context of Augustine's calling as a pastor and bishop. For those who seek to serve the diverse and pluralistic culture of the twenty-first century, Augustine can prove to be a fruitful dialogue partner in considering the origins and shape of Christian theology, culture, politics, and ethics today.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate (1) an increased knowledge of Augustinian theology; (2) competence in interpreting the Augustinian legacy in the context of the larger Christian church, including (3) greater facility in handling historical texts and evaluating theological issues, as well as (4) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth and diversity of the Christian dialogue with culture.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1215 pages required.

PRINT SOURCES: 317 pages required.

Augustine, Confessions, trans. R. S. Pine-Coffin. Penguin Classics, 1961. ISBN: 978-0140441147, Pub. Price $10.00. [220 pp. assigned] NB: READ BOOKS 1–8 (~150 pp.) PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS.

Augustine, On Christian Teaching, trans. R. P. H. Green. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199540631, Pub. Price $12.95. [97 pp. assigned]

DIGITAL SOURCES: 898 pages required.

The following books can be obtained in print — or accessed via eReserves, the Internet Archive (archive.org), Kindle, Google Books, or Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org).

A Companion to Augustine, ed. Mark Vessey. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World; Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. ISBN: 978-1119025559. Available via eReserves, but also in print for $54.95. [~100 pp. assigned]

Augustine in His Own Words, ed. William J. Harmless, S.J. Catholic University of America Press, 2010). ISBN: 978-0813217437. Available via eReserves, but also in print for $34.95 (paper). [268 pp. assigned]

Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs, ed. J. Patout Burns Jr. and Robin M. Jensen. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802869319. Available via eReserves, but also in print for $55.00 (cloth). [266 pp. assigned]

Remaining pages will be assigned from the following:

Five Augustine volumes from A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, ed. Philip Schaff (1886–1900; many reprints, various publishers):

vol. 1, The Confessions and Letters of St. Augustin

vol. 3, On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatises

vol. 4, The Writings Against the Manichæans and Against the Donatists

vol. 5, Anti-Pelagian Writings

vol. 6, Sermon on the Mount, Harmony of the Gospels, Homilies on the Gospels.

Other assorted articles and essays, available as eReserves. Readings from the course will address aspects of Augustine's life, cultural context, and theological controversies, as well as pastoral concerns bearing on matters such as church/state relations, human sexuality, slavery, and the sanctuary status of the Christian church in antiquity.

RECOMMENDED READING: Full list available in syllabus online, but note especially this title:

Allan D. Fitzgerald, ed., Augustine through the Ages: An Encyclopedia. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864796, Pub. Price $87.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Plenary assigned reading, 1215 pages. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [80 hours].
2. Weekly reading-response/DLA forum posts of 250 words, plus a 125-word response (35% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1–4.] [10 hours].
3. Critical review of a book related to the student’s research project, 800 words; with a follow-up digest of professional reviews, also 800 words (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2–3.] [10 hours].
4. Research project, 5000 words on a topic relating to Augustine or his theology or legacy, approved by instructor (45% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2–3.] [40 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None, but some exposure to patristic theology or history is desirable. Auditors will be required to complete all assignments and attend all classes.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH4 requirement in the 120 MDIV and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Will change your life forever.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.