Expositions of the Psalms 1, 1-32

by Augustine of Hippo, Maria Boulding

Here is an attractive translation which presents Augustine's expression of his own spirituality, which entails his most caluable theological insights.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, Catholic

520 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Early church father and philosopher Saint Augustine served from 396 as the bishop of Hippo in present-day Algeria and through such writings as the autobiographical Confessions in 397 and the voluminous City of God from 413 to 426 profoundly influenced Christianity, argued against Manichaeism and Donatism, and helped to establish the doctrine of original sin.

An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.

People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."

The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."

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Reviews

[David Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of five volumes of Augustine's sermons on the psalms. Mostly they are actual sermons, preached before an audience, and here you can see Augustine's speaking skills at their finest.

He took the psalms seriously, as we all should do, and these texts consider each line of each psalm, illuminating them by other scriptural references, by his personal experiences, and the fruits of his prayer life. Augustine organized his life in such a way that he spent most of his time praying, thinking about the faith, and talking about it with the other members of his diocese; and the fruits of this labor are apparent in this collection. Every word comes from the heart; this was not a mere intellectual exercise.

On materialism: "By enemies of this providential dispensation which was brought about by Jesus Christ, and him crucified, we ought in a general sense to understand all who forbid us to believe in things beyond our experience, while themselves promising certain knowledge. This is what all heretics do, and the same holds for those who among superstitious Gentiles pass for philosophers."

On scandals in the church: "God's people that is now sorely afflicted, and suffers tribulation from being so fiercely tempted, from such great scandals, persecutions and oppression. People who are making no progress in the Church are unaware of these spiritual torments; they think there is peace. But only let them begin to advance and they will experience the oppression under which it labors, because it was when the crop had grown and begun to yield its grain that the tares also appeared (Mt 13:26). Fuller knowledge means increased sorrow."

So you can see that nothing really has changed in the 1,600 years since Augustine wrote. The issues he wrestled with are still the same issues we deal with today; human nature hasn't changed since God breathed life into Adam. Only technology and the circumstances of life change; people never actually change. For this reason, any argument for change that starts with "Due to the new nature of modern man" or "due to modern man's new understanding" is an argument that must be false.

[Alex]

Only read the exposition on Psalm 1 and 2. Would like to read the expositions that are more like written out sermons (e.g. Exposition 2 of Psalm 18).

[Graham Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful stuff, particularly those that are actual sermons.

[Dim Bulb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding modern translation by Sister Maria Boulding. This is one of the volumes in a series entitled "The Works Of St Augustine: A Translation For The 21st Century."

[Cameron Barham]

“You will fulfill through love what was beyond your powers through fear.”, p. 399