The Beauty of Jesus Christ: Filling out a Scheme of St Augustine

by Gerald O'Collins

This book anchors its account of the beauty of Jesus Christ to a scheme found in St Augustine of Hippo's Expositions of the Psalms . There Augustine recognized the beauty of Christ at every stage-from his pre-existence ('beautiful in heaven'), through his incarnation, the public ministry ('beautiful in his miracles, beautiful in calling to life'), passion, crucifixion, burial, resurrection ('beautiful in taking up his life again'), and glorious life 'in heaven'. Augustine never filled out this laconic summary by writing a work on Christ and his beauty. The Beauty of Jesus Christ seems to be the first attempt in Christian history to write a comprehensive account of the beauty of Christ in the light of Augustine's list.

The work begins by offering a working description of what it understands by beauty as being perfect, harmonious, and radiant. Beauty, above all the divine beauty, enjoys inexhaustible meaning and overlaps with 'the holy' or the awesome and fascinating mystery of God. Loving beauty opens the way to truth and helps us grasp and practise virtue. The books needs to add some items to Augustine's list by recognizing Christ's beauty in his baptism, transfiguration, and post-resurrection sending of the Holy Spirit. It also goes beyond Augustine by showing how the imagery and language Jesus prepared in his hidden life and then used in his ministry witness to the beautiful sensibility that developed during his years at home in Nazareth.

Throughout, this book draws on the Scriptures to illustrate and justify Augustine's brief claims about the beauty revealed in the whole story of Christ, from his pre-existence to his risen 'post-existence'. Where appropriate, it also cites the witness to Christ's beauty that has come from artists, composers of sacred music, the creators of icons, and writers.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published June 14, 2020

About the author

Born in Australia, Gerald O’Collins received his PhD at Cambridge University in 1968. From 1973 to 2006 he taught at the Gregorian University (Rome), where he was also dean of the theology faculty (1985–91). He is now a research professor in theology at St Mary’s University College in Twickenham.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid little book. O’Collins sets out to give biblical and theological justification for the crescendo of Augustine’s exposition of Psalm 45 (Psalm 44, in Augustine’s day), which is a rather ornate praise of Christ’s beauty. The *only* reason I don’t give this book 5 stars is that O’Collins gives far too much to high source criticism in terms of authenticity. To his credit, it feels customary at times, as if he doesn’t want to but feels like he must. The net result, however, is that his harrowing exposition has a lot of its luster sucked out with unnecessary caveats and concessions. Apart from that, there are some precious insights here. So precious, in fact, that this staunch protestant is willing to give a pass to some of the Roman catholic mysticism, which was bound to show up.

[Nick Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly straightforward exposition of its theme. By far the most interesting chapter for me concerned beauty in relation to the death of Jesus. There's a most curious concern with authenticity in the chapters related to Christ's adult life but hardly elsewhere. I found this concern off-putting in such a book. Who will be convinced of Christ's beauty in incarnation and ascension who needs traditions sifted through historical criticism to establish Jesus might have said or did some particular (non miraculous) deed or saying?! But this is overall a small matter. Those interested in the topic will find this book a useful exposition with a particularly strong chapter on the death of Jesus.