Augustine's error - 005

Augustine supposes that the keys to the Kingdom of heaven are the keys to membership in the church. The Kingdom of heaven is the New Jerusalem; the 'new teaching of peace', which Jesus ushered in with the sermon the mount. The keys to the new teaching are the prophecies of the cross in the Old Testament scriptures. see Keys of the kingdom Peter was given the keys (understanding) to unlock the mystery of the cross that was hidden from the beginning.

Augustine (ch 26) argues that love of ourselves is commanded in "love your neighbor as yourself". This comes from a misunderstanding of love. Love = 1, hate = 2 or more. The thing that is first is loved. Jacob I loved, Esau I hated". It has nothing to do with affection, but pre-eminence. Since we are to love even our enemy, then our self can never legitimately be first.

Ch 31. Once again his philosophy appears to be willing ignorance of the scriptures:

Nu 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

De 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, [even] you above all people, as [it is] this day.

2Sa 22:20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

2Sa 1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

Ps 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Pr 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.

Pr 15:8 ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.

It is likely that his invented doctrine of an unchanging God prohibited him from seeing that life and personality of God which takes delight in men. .... yep Ch 32

Ch 35 "The purpose of the scriptures is that we love God" The purpose according to scripture is to acknowledge God as God and then to love him. It is placing him first because He is Holy/Separate.

Augustine uses pure free-for-all allegory.

Teeth are the equivalent of the two-edged sword. They are white/holy. Add an alef and it becomes 'hate' the sharp two-edged sword judges... places one second. Teeth are associated with the mouth and the word ... the same as the sword.

V2 ch15. Ouch... a translation preferable to the original.

Ch 18 Augustine uses profane sources. Scriptures are self-contained. The interpretation of the prophets is subject to the spirit of the prophets, not pagans.

v3 ch5 He seems to get it right: "Now it is surely a miserable slavery of the soul to take signs for things, and to be unable to lift the eye of the mind above what is corporeal and created, that it may drink in eternal light."

Ch 9 baptism and communion ... body and blood a sign.. not the reality.

"Whatever there is in the word of God that cannot, when taken literally, be referred either to purity of life or soundness of doctrine, you may set down as figurative."

Massive error. All the Old testament is two to four layers.

Ch 12 better to eat fish like the Lord than lentils like Esau...

Ch 12 -20 Excuses polygamy based on necessity of procreation. Rather than on the symbol of marriage and the picture of the church as the prostitute-virgin bride.

Ch 25 Specifically uses leaven wrongly. Says it doesn't have to mean the same thing everywhere.

Rules of Tichonius

Good. Christ and his body are interchangeable

Good. Prostitute bride theme of the church without mentioning it.

good. Grace vs. law

good species vs. genus.... part vs. whole

of times part of a day is a day, etc.

special numbers are figurative: 7, 10, 12 etc

recapitualation

V4

Ch 9