Confessions - Book XI - Chapter Viii
St. Augustine explores the eternal nature of God's Word as the immutable Truth that teaches and guides believers beyond temporal understanding.
In this profound exposition, St. Augustine delves into the nature of God's eternal Word as the foundation of all existence and truth. He explains how the Word, made flesh in the gospel, teaches believers and leads them to seek and find the immutable Truth within. Augustine emphasizes the importance of divine teaching rooted in God's eternal Reason, inviting listeners to deepen their faith through understanding God's voice.
Text
10. Why is this, I ask of thee, O Lord my God? I see it after a fashion, but I do not know how to express it, unless I say that everything that begins to be and then ceases to be begins and ceases when it is known in thy eternal Reason that it ought to begin or cease--in thy eternal Reason where nothing begins or ceases. And this is thy Word, which is also \"the Beginning,\" because it also speaks to us.[424] Thus, in the gospel, he spoke through the flesh; and this sounded in the outward ears of men so that it might be believed and sought for within, and so that it might be found in the eternal Truth, in which the good and only Master teacheth all his disciples.[425] There, O Lord, I hear thy voice, the voice of one speaking to me, since he who teacheth us speaketh to us. But he that doth not teach us doth not really speak to us even when he speaketh. Yet who is it that teacheth us unless it be the Truth immutable? For even when we are instructed by means of the mutable creation, we are thereby led to the Truth immutable. There we learn truly as we stand and hear him, and we rejoice greatly \"because of the bridegroom\\
Sermon Outline
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I. The Eternal Reason of God
- All beginnings and endings exist in God's eternal Reason
- Nothing truly begins or ceases outside God's Word
- God's Word is the unchanging foundation of reality
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II. The Word Made Flesh
- God's Word speaks through the flesh in the gospel
- The Word is heard outwardly to be sought inwardly
- Believers find eternal Truth through the incarnate Word
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III. The Role of Divine Teaching
- True teaching comes from the immutable Truth
- Mutable creation instructs us toward eternal Truth
- Faith arises from hearing and understanding God's voice
Key Quotes
“Everything that begins to be and then ceases to be begins and ceases when it is known in thy eternal Reason.” — St. Augustine
“The gospel, he spoke through the flesh; and this sounded in the outward ears of men so that it might be believed and sought for within.” — St. Augustine
“He that doth not teach us doth not really speak to us even when he speaketh.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Trust in God's eternal Word as the foundation for understanding life's beginnings and endings.
- Seek to hear and internalize the gospel as the living Word that teaches and transforms.
- Recognize that true teaching comes from God's immutable Truth, guiding faith and understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augustine mean by God's eternal Reason?
He refers to God's unchanging and timeless plan in which all beginnings and endings are known and ordained.
How is God's Word described in this sermon?
God's Word is described as eternal, immutable, and the ultimate teacher that speaks through the gospel.
Why is teaching important according to Augustine?
Because only the immutable Truth truly teaches and leads believers to faith and understanding.
How does the gospel relate to God's Word?
The gospel is the Word made flesh, spoken outwardly so that it may be believed and found inwardly in eternal Truth.