Lecture 7 Book X

Dr. Ann T. Orlando

Book X

• Historical context

• Reading the Text

• Influence

Historical Background

• Anthropology

• Confession

• Happiness

• Sinfulness

• Relation to previous Books

Confessions Structure

Augustine's Reflection on His PastBook I: From God; birth and relationship of infant with mother

– Book II: Bondage of Flesh• Book III: Slavery of eyes and mind; problem of evil

– Book IV Ambition of World» Book V Encounter with Faustus, Manichaeism, philosophy;

moving from Carthage to Rome– Book VI: Recognition of emptiness of world’s ambition

• Book VII: Freedom of mind; resolution of problem of evil– Book VIII: Liberation from bondage of flesh

Book IX: Relation to Monica, her death, return to God

Augustine’s PresentBook X: MemoryBook XI: TimeBook XII: Interpreting ScriptureBook XIII: Trinity and Church

Book X Outline

• Augustine addresses his readers X.1.1 – X.5.7• God is found and loved in the inner self X.6.8 –

X.8.15• The nature of memory X.9.16 – X.15.23• Forgetfulness X.16.24 – X.19.28• God is happiness X.24.35 – X.27.38• Endurance in this life X.28.39 – X.29.40• Continued temptations and sinfulness X.30.41 –

X.41.66• Jesus Christ the Mediator X.42.67 – X.42.70

Influence

• Memory

• Need for continual repentance