Augustine's error - 001

Underestimating the wisdom of God

Possessing a classical education which included philosophy, rhetoric and grammar as well as a sophisticated and technical understanding of the nature and functioning of language, Augustine desired to convince his educated peers that the Bible was to be respected as fine literature. This was his first mistake.

1Co 1:20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

The Bible is not merely fine literature. It is the infinitely sublime wisdom of God which is considered foolishness to the world and which makes the wisdom of the world to be foolishness. By attempting to make it conform to the standards of fine writing, he reduced it and limited discovery to those things which merely human methods could discover.

Philosophical arrogance

His fundamental error was the proposition that God spoke to man in stories in order that the most simple among fallen men could understand what he wished to communicate. This is contrary to what Jesus said:

Lu 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

God hid the true meaning from them.

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Although the message of the Gospel is simple, and can be understood from the literal message of the Bible, God has hidden the message of the Gospel in the scriptures from the beginning.

Eph 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

An improper beginning

"We have wandered far from God, and if we wish to return..." hold that thought Augustine.

Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

We did not merely wander from God. We were born sinful with carnal minds at war with God. (Ro 8.7)

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