| Title: |
To Feed and Follow: Peter, Bishops, and the Church in St. Augustine's Exegesis |
| Contributors: |
Owens, Shane (Author); The Catholic University of America (Degree granting institution); Pecknold, Chad (Thesis advisor); Clemmons, Thomas (Committee member); Root, Michael (Committee member) |
| Publisher Information: |
The Catholic University of America |
| Publication Year: |
2020 |
| Collection: |
The Catholic University of America: Digital Collections |
| Subject Terms: |
Apostle Peter; Augustine; Bishop; Church; Episcopacy; Exegesis |
| Description: |
Augustine’s view of the episcopacy is often derived from a consideration of his actions as bishop. That Augustine assumed a role does not however corroborate its inclusion in the essential roles of the episcopacy as instituted by Christ and exemplified in the apostles. In each ecclesial epoch, the bishops have borrowed from the dominant model of temporal leadership: Roman governor, feudal prince, corporate bureaucrat, etc. To discern what is essential rather than circumstantial to the episcopacy as taught by Augustine it is apposite to consult his figural exegesis during his years as bishop of Hippo Regius. In c. Faust., Augustine primarily utilizes abstract episcopal figurae under two aspects: the paternal and the prophetic. The apostle Peter emerges as episcopal exemplar and prophet of the definitive Pentecost. He broadly represents the New Covenant in Christ. In Io. eu. tr. 55-124 and festal sermons on John 21, the Petrine figural mosaic expands. In contrast to the abstract figurae of c. Faust., the Petrine figura of the Johannine sermons spans the entire ark of the apostle’s life, accreting scriptural allusions. As the representative of the apostolic-episcopal office and the figure of the Bridal Church wedded to and built upon the Christic rock, Peter as exegeted illustrates Augustine’s ecclesiology and theology of the episcopacy. The most important pericope in Augustine’s Petrine mosaic is John 21 and the double dominical command to “feed my sheep” and “follow me.” The commands correspond to the two episcopal aspects which predominate in the Johannine sermons: the pastoral and the martyrial. The pastoral absorbs the paternal and prophetic from c. Faust. The project concludes with a treatment of the neglected ciu. XV-XVIII. Augustine evokes the biblical theology of c. Faust. in ciu., indicating the consistency of his figural exegesis across his episcopacy. An explanation of the significance of the apostle Peter at the conclusion of ciu. XVIII permits a defense of Book XVIII’s coherence and its role in ciu. ... |
| Document Type: |
doctoral or postdoctoral thesis |
| Language: |
unknown |
| Relation: |
local: Owens_cua_0043A_11123.pdf |
| Availability: |
http://hdl.handle.net/1961/cuislandora:214760; https://cuislandora.wrlc.org/islandora/object/cuislandora%3A214760 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.43608573 |
| Database: |
BASE |