Is the Tongue Tamable? James 3:8 and the Date of Augustine's Sermo 180
For almost a century, most scholars of Augustine seemingly were content with the idea that the bishop's sermo 180 was preached near the middle of the first phase of the Pelagian Controversy, i.e., in 414/415 C.E. In 2013, a new critical edition of this sermon appeared. As part of that edition&#...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Institution
[2017]
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| In: |
Revue d'études augustiniennes et patristiques
Year: 2017, Volume: 63, Issue: 1, Pages: 81-98 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Augustinus, Aurelius, Saint 354-430, Sermones 180
/ Dating
/ Bible. Jakobusbrief 3,8
/ Translation
/ Latin
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | For almost a century, most scholars of Augustine seemingly were content with the idea that the bishop's sermo 180 was preached near the middle of the first phase of the Pelagian Controversy, i.e., in 414/415 C.E. In 2013, a new critical edition of this sermon appeared. As part of that edition's introductory materials, S. Boodts argued that, in fact, it is impossible to date sermo 180. This article challenges both the traditional view and the view of Boodts. In particular, this article argues that, while absolute certainty remains elusive, it is possible to assign sermo 180 to the fifteen year span of 396 to 411 C.E. with a high degree of probability and that the sermon can be dated to before 415 C.E. with near certainty. This conclusion is based upon the history of Augustine's reception and use of James 3. In particular, this article shows that the wording of sermo 180 makes it highly improbable that Augustine was deeply familiar with the Latin text of James 3:8 at the time that sermon was preached. It also shows that by 415 C.E., Augustine had clearly become deeply familiar with the Latin text of James 3 and, moreover, had established an anti-Pelagian exegesis and application of James 3:8 that clearly was absent from his repertoire when he preached sermo 180. From this evolution in the Augustine's thought, a necessary date range for sermo 180 that includes a terminus ante quem of 415 C.E., and probably even one of 411 C.E., necessarily follows. |
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| ISSN: | 2428-3606 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Revue d'études augustiniennes et patristiques
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1484/J.REA.4.2017073 |