Into Theology

Drs. Ian Clary and Wyatt Graham finish their read through of Augustine's Confessions. In this episode then, they discuss chapter 13---the final chapter of the Confessions. Here, Augustine's argument comes to rest as he finds his rest in God, and God rests in him. This chapter is a contemplation of Augustine's relationship to God (and so ours). It is a chapter worth reading and re-reading, as Augustine shows how his restless heart finds its rest in God.

In this episode, Drs. Ian Clary and Wyatt Graham discuss Book XII of Augustine's Confessions. In this book, Augustine seeks to understand the meaning of Genesis 1. On the basis of other Scripture that talks about creation (like Colossians 1 and Psalm 115), he sees that Genesis 1:1 must talk also about the invisible creation of thrones and powers and other non-visible creatures. At the same time, Genesis 1:8 must talk about the heavens that we see since God here names the firmament "heaven." As he contemplates the meaning of the passage, Augustine also takes umbrage with those who are "know it alls" and think they can know the mind of Moses. Well, we do our best. And the good news is that God made the Bible available to the cobbler and scholar alike. According to each's capability, they can know what the text means by what it says, even if they have a different way of putting it. God is much wiser than we are. And in so far as Augustine gets Genesis 1 and biblical interpretation right, he is often much wiser than we are too!

In this short episode, Ian Clary and Wyatt Graham talk about Dr. Coleman Ford's new book on Augustine and friendship called,"A Bond between Souls." Dr. Ford was a guest on the podcast earlier this year, and we could not be happier for him to publish this new book with Lexham Press.   Here is the link to Dr. Ford's book: https://lexhampress.com/product/224279/a-bond-between-souls-friendship-in-the-letters-of-augustine Also, here is a link to Dr. Clary's work on Augustine, "God Crowns His Own gifts": https://hesedandemet.com/product/god-crowns-his-own-gifts-augustine-grace-and-the-monks-of-hadrumetum/

Ian and Wyatt invited Dr. Caleb Cohoe to help guide us (and you) through some of the trickier philosophical contexts in the Confessions. We talk about Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Neoplatonism (and more) to help make sense of the world Augustine lived in. As well, we tackle the question of why Book 10-13 differ from Book 1-9 in the Confessions. See Dr. Cohoe's website at: http://www.ccohoe.com/.

Ian and Wyatt briefly discuss and recommend Scott Swain's new book, The Trinity: An Introduction.

Ian and Wyatt briefly discuss and recommend Dietrich Bonhoeffer's work Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible.

In this episode, we discuss book XI of Augustine's Confessions in which explores time and God's eternity.

In Book X of Augustine's Confessions, Augustine spends a considerable amount of time trying to understand his memory and how God can be in the memory when God is not an object of our experience. We don't see or taste God like we do food. He is not an emotion. He is not something normal in our experience. Yet we can know him. How? The answer involves God being nowhere in particular but everywhere present.

In this episode, Drs. Ian Clary and Wyatt Graham discuss Book Ten of Augustine's Confessions. They provide an introduction to the idea of memory in this lengthy chapter. In short, Augustine reflects on memory and the mind to explain how he came to know God and how others might do the same.