Confessions - Book V - Chapter XI
St. Augustine reflects on his intellectual struggles with Manichean critiques and his earnest pursuit of the pure truth found in Scripture.
In this reflective sermon, St. Augustine recounts his intellectual and spiritual struggle with Manichean criticisms of Scripture. He shares his desire to find pure truth amid doubts and the influence of learned debate on his faith journey. Augustine's honest wrestling with Scripture's integrity highlights the challenges and growth in the path to Christian faith.
Text
21. Furthermore, the things they censured in thy Scriptures I thought impossible to be defended. And yet, occasionally, I desired to confer on various matters with someone well learned in those books, to test what he thought of them. For already the words of one Elpidius, who spoke and disputed face to face against these same Manicheans, had begun to impress me, even when I was at Carthage; because he brought forth things out of the Scriptures that were not easily withstood, to which their answers appeared to me feeble. One of their answers they did not give forth publicly, but only to us in private--when they said that the writings of the New Testament had been tampered with by unknown persons who desired to ingraft the Jewish law into the Christian faith. But they themselves never brought forward any uncorrupted copies. Still thinking in corporeal categories and very much ensnared and to some extent stifled, I was borne down by those conceptions of bodily substance. I panted under this load for the air of thy truth, but I was not able to breathe it pure and undefiled.
Sermon Outline
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I. Encounter with Manichean Criticism
- Initial doubts about Scripture's reliability
- Manichean claims of tampered New Testament texts
- Desire to debate and understand opposing views
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II. Intellectual Struggle and Search for Truth
- Feeling burdened by corporeal conceptions
- Longing for pure and undefiled truth
- Recognition of the weakness in Manichean arguments
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III. The Role of Scripture in Faith
- Scripture as a source of undeniable truth
- Importance of learned discussion and discernment
- Faith development through wrestling with doubts
Key Quotes
“I panted under this load for the air of thy truth, but I was not able to breathe it pure and undefiled.” — St. Augustine
“One of their answers they did not give forth publicly, but only to us in private--when they said that the writings of the New Testament had been tampered with by unknown persons.” — St. Augustine
“The words of one Elpidius... had begun to impress me... because he brought forth things out of the Scriptures that were not easily withstood.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Engage thoughtfully and respectfully with doubts about faith to deepen understanding.
- Seek wise counsel and scriptural knowledge when confronted with challenging teachings.
- Persist in the pursuit of pure truth even when intellectual or spiritual burdens feel heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was St. Augustine's main struggle in this sermon?
He wrestled with doubts about the integrity of Scripture due to Manichean criticisms and sought to find pure truth.
Who influenced Augustine's thinking during this period?
Elpidius, who debated against the Manicheans using Scripture, impressed Augustine with his arguments.
What was the Manichean claim about the New Testament?
They claimed the New Testament writings had been tampered with to incorporate Jewish law into Christianity.
How did Augustine describe his mental state?
He felt burdened and stifled by corporeal conceptions, longing to breathe the pure truth.