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condorhanson's review against another edition
Don’t be a Manichee: Genesis to Malachi is Christian Scripture. Sorry Andy Stanley.
Augustine’s Neo-Platonic bent is really on display here, as well as Aristotelian influence. Also, his allegorical Interpretation is a bit of a shock if you’re not used to hearing scripture read that way. It can be a little strange to modern ears, but I think can be more or less theologically sound. Wiser people in the church than me can help sort that out.
Even so, it’s an interesting read and one that challenges modern readers to grapple with our methods v. other methods of Scriptural interpretation, especially premodern and Theological Interpretation (which can be absolutely fantastic and life-giving and in-line with Christian orthodoxy/teaching). After all, Augustine is our brother in Christ and part of the church catholic so we’ve gotta take him seriously, even if he entertains the notion that birds can fly because the “water above” is moist air that suspends them in flight.
Augustine’s Neo-Platonic bent is really on display here, as well as Aristotelian influence. Also, his allegorical Interpretation is a bit of a shock if you’re not used to hearing scripture read that way. It can be a little strange to modern ears, but I think can be more or less theologically sound. Wiser people in the church than me can help sort that out.
Even so, it’s an interesting read and one that challenges modern readers to grapple with our methods v. other methods of Scriptural interpretation, especially premodern and Theological Interpretation (which can be absolutely fantastic and life-giving and in-line with Christian orthodoxy/teaching). After all, Augustine is our brother in Christ and part of the church catholic so we’ve gotta take him seriously, even if he entertains the notion that birds can fly because the “water above” is moist air that suspends them in flight.
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