What Challenges Face Descriptions Of God - 1568 Words

What challenges face descriptions of God, according to Augustine in Confessions and De Trinitate? Augustine of Hippo is writing at the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries. The two primary texts which we will consider in this essay are both classic expositions of Augustinian theology and philosophy, however the style of writing found in each is rather different. Confessions addresses God directly in the second person, while De Trinitate appeals more to the reader. These are both written by the bishop of Hippo after the ecumenical councils of Nicea (325CE) and Constantinople (381CE) where the Trinitarian doctrine of God was firmly established as well as the divinity of Jesus Christ, hence his teachings on the Trinity aim to explain and†¦show more content†¦However, before he will begin talking of his own life there is prayers of invocation and reflections on the mystery of God s indwelling and being. This serves to situate the writings as a spiritual account of God s work in Augustine s life, rather than a removed biography. Seeing himself as one who abandoned the true relig ion, he wrestles with some fundamental challenges he faces upon reflection - where was God when Augustine was not living a Christian life or does knowledge of God precede or follow from calling upon God? Reading his account of God s being (Confessions, Book I, Chapter IV) one has the sense that this particularly poetic chapter reflects a converted soul s struggle to reconcile paradoxical images of God, which Augustine juxtaposes to convey a sense of mystery. Phrases like my Lord God carry distinctly biblical tones since the Divine Name is often translated Adonai (Lord). There are clearly other biblical influences on the chapter. God is never new, never old, yet making all things new referring to God s eternal nature and Revelation 21:25. However, other descriptions seem to draw on other philosophical traditions. An expression of God reflected Platonic forms is seen as God is most high, best, most powerful even to the extent of being both the furthest and nearest. The idea of the true philosopher seeking the light as if in a darkened cave can