St. Augustine’s Interpretation of the Psalms of Ascent

The Psalms were a very popular and biblical book with both lay and monastic audiences in the early church. The Psalms or songs of ascent, 119-133, may have been sung in ancient Israel as pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem, and perhaps by priests as they ascended the steps to the Temple. For instance, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe thy righteous ordinances." (119:105-106) Recent research has explored how past interpretation can help contextualize current interpretation as well as provide a more colorful and theologically meaningful understanding of scripture. In St. Augustine's Interpretation of the Psalms of Ascent, Gerald McLarney examines Augustine of Hippo's (d. 430) interpretation of the ascent motif in sermons on Psalms 119-133. He looks at the delivery, transmission, and broader context of the sermons, as well as examining the sermons as they stand. McLarney considers the reception of the Psalter in the early church, and examines patristic hermeneutical principles and Psalter commentaries in conjunction with Augustine's distinctive approaches to scripture and the Psalms. He studies the delivery and transmission of Augustineâ#x80;#x99;s Expositions (Ennarationes), as well as the mechanics of their composition, recording, and circulation, and the manuscript tradition. He looks at the possible times and places of their delivery. McLarney then examines the social, cultural, and liturgical context of these Expositions. Topics include African Christianity in Augustine's time, the composition of a typical audience, and the structure of the liturgy with specific reference to the role of the Psalter. He sets in sharper relief features such as the prominence of martyrs, the influence of Neoplatonism, emphasis on spiritual combat, and the importance of singing - all within the context of the physical and liturgical context of delivery. Augustine does not read out (exegete) the Psalter simply for his own benefit, but pursues a hermeneutic of alignment, bringing the Psalmist, the Psalm, and the lives of his North African readers into a common context - and draws them into the dynamism of the Psalms. His readers continue an ascent of salvation, in the communion of believers, that began in ancient times. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gerard McLarney is at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta The Psalms were a very popular and biblical book with both lay and monastic audiences in the early church. The Psalms or songs of ascent, 119-133, may have been sung in ancient Israel as pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem, and perhaps by priests as they ascended the steps to the Temple. For instance, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe thy righteous ordinances." (119:105-106) Recent research has explored how past interpretation can help contextualize current interpretation as well as provide a more colorful and theologically meaningful understanding of scripture. In St. Augustine's Interpretation of the Psalms of Ascent, Gerald McLarney examines Augustine of Hippo's (d. 430) interpretation of the ascent motif in sermons on Psalms 119-133. He looks at the delivery, transmission, and broader context of the sermons, as well as examining the sermons as they stand. McLarney considers the reception of the Psalter in the early church, and examines patristic hermeneutical principles and Psalter commentaries in conjunction with Augustine's distinctive approaches to scripture and the Psalms. He studies the delivery and transmission of Augustineâ#x80;#x99;s Expositions (Ennarationes), as well as the mechanics of their composition, recording, and circulation, and the manuscript tradition. He looks at the possible times and places of their delivery. McLarney then examines the social, cultural, and liturgical context of these Expositions. Topics include African Christianity in Augustine's time, the composition of a typical audience, and the structure of the liturgy with specific reference to the role of the Psalter. He sets in sharper relief features such as the prominence of martyrs, the influence of Neoplatonism, emphasis on spiritual combat, and the importance of singing - all within the context of the physical and liturgical context of delivery. Augustine does not read out (exegete) the Psalter simply for his own benefit, but pursues a hermeneutic of alignment, bringing the Psalmist, the Psalm, and the lives of his North African readers into a common context - and draws them into the dynamism of the Psalms. His readers continue an ascent of salvation, in the communion of believers, that began in ancient times. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gerard McLarney is at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta Mclarney Considers The Reception Of The Psalter In The Early Church And Examines Patristic Hermeneutical Principles And Psalter Commentaries In Conjunction With Augustine's Distinctive Approaches To Scripture And The Psalms. He Studies The Delivery And Transmission Of Augustine's Expositions (enarrationes), As Well As The Mechanics Of Their Composition, Recording, And Circulation, And The Manuscript Tradition. He Looks At The Possible Times And Places Of Their Delivery. Mclarney Then Examines The Social, Cultural, And Liturgical Context Of These Expositions. Topics Include African Christianity In Augustine's Time, The Composition Of A Typical Audience, And The Structure Of The Liturgy With Specific Reference To The Role Of The Psalter. He Sets In Sharper Relief Features Such As The Prominence Of Martyrs, The Influence Of Neoplatonism, Emphasis On Spiritual Combat, And The Importance Of Singing--all Within The Context Of The Physical And Liturgical Context Of Delivery. Augustine Does Not Read Out (exegete) The Psalter Simply For His Own Benefit But Pursues A Hermeneutic Of Alignment, Bringing The Psalmist, The Psalm, And The Lives Of His North African Readers Into A Common Context--and Draws Them Into The Dynamism Of The Psalms. His Readers Continue An Ascent Of Salvation In The Communion Of Believers That Began In Ancient Times. (publisher). Patristic Exegesis And The Psalter -- Delivery And Transmission Of The Enarrationes -- The Social, Cultural, And Ecclesial Context Of The Enarrationes -- St. Augustine's Interpretation Of The Psalms Of Ascent -- An Exploration Of Enarrationes. Gerard Mclarney. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Just as the Gradual Psalms, or "songs of ascent," are a self-contained group within the Psalter, the commentaries on them form a homogeneous unit within Augustine's massive Enarrationes in Psalmos. Gerard McLarney's fresh study places this group of sermons within the narrative of Augustine's life, concluding that they were delivered in either Carthage or Hippo in the course of a single whiter between 406 and 411. McLarney's elaboration of what he terms the "hermeneutic of alignment" in the Enarrationes brings together key issues in patristic exegesis and contemporary theology, specifically the biblical sources of communal and spiritual life in the ongoing progress of the Christian community in its ascent to the heavenly Jerusalem. For McLarney, Augustine's "major interpretative strategy ... is to intersect the text and his audience within the ongoing narrative of salvation history." This elegantly written monograph will contribute much to the future study of the Enarrationes and will further enhance Augustine's reputation as a preacher. Book jacket Acknowledgments xi A Note on the Latin and English Texts of the Enarrationes in Psalmos xiii Abbreviations xv d Introduction 1 1. Patristic Exegesis and the Psalter 9 2. Delivery and Transmission of the Enarrationes 69 3. The Social, Cultural, and Ecclesial Context of the Enarrationes 96 4. St. Augustine’s Interpretation of the Psalms of Ascent: The Example of Enarratio 119 123 5. An Exploration of Enarrationes 120–25 151 Conclusion 199 d Bibliography 219 Index 243