Abstract:
Scholars are still of the opinion that Augustine first started to read and discuss the Bible only
once he became a Catholic Christian, or even only after his appointment as a Catholic priest. The
possibility of Manichaean influences on Augustine’s reproduction of biblical texts is therefore,
in many cases, not taken into account. However, the study of (Latin) Manichaean sources
gives us reason to rethink that position. This article is an investigation of the use of Scripture
in the most extensive, still existing Manichaean work, originally written in Latin, namely the
Capitula. Its author was the Manichaean bishop Faustus (flor. app. 380 CE Roman Africa). The
most important subject in the Capitula concerns those parts of Scripture that bear relevance
to the real Christian. Therefore, the work provides important insight into the Manichaeans’
use and appreciation of Scripture. Faustus was well-known to the young Augustine and as a
consequence the Capitula could well give us important insights into Augustine’s knowledge
of and opinions on Scripture as a Manichaean hearer. One problem with this theory is the
fact that Augustine only received the work some 13 years after his conversion to Catholic
Christianity. However, the examination of the quotations from Scripture, that have as its focus
those from the Old Testament, illustrates, amongst others, that Faustus mainly used Biblical
texts already quoted in the works of Addas/Adimantus (flor. 270 CE). The Capitula turns
out to be an eloquent recycling of earlier Manichaean biblical arguments – a fact that makes
it very likely that the content of the Capitula was known to Augustine in his Manichaean
years. As a consequence, one should reckon with Manichaean influence on Augustine’s
reproduction of biblical texts.
Description:
Contribution to ‘Augustine
and Manichaean
Christianity’, the First
South African Symposium
on Augustine of Hippo,
University of Pretoria, 24−26
April 2012. Dr Jacob van
den Berg is participating as
research fellow of Prof. Dr
Hans van Oort, Professor
Extraordinarius in the
Department of Church
History and Polity of the
Faculty of Theology at
the University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa.
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