Genesis against the Manichees, and The Literal Interpretation of Genesis: An Unfinished
28 On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees bility of the sacred scriptures, Augustine intended to provide Christians with a way of reading that would yield a valid understanding of the Bible.
A commentary on the book of Genesis seemed a suitable way of achieving these several goals.16 The work was indeed written against the Manichees (contra Manichaeos),11 but it was written primarily for Christians, whom Augustine wanted to enlighten regarding the basic question every religion seeks to answer: "How to think about God in a godly way (quid de Deo pie sentiatur).'m ln choosing to give an interpretation of Genesis 1-3, Augustine was able to make use of two fundamental areas of ancient philosophy: cosmology and anthropology (or ethics). ln the early Christian tradition of interpretation Genesis 1—2:4 was regarded as an authoritative text on the origin of the world, and Genesis 2:4b—3:24 as an instruction on the nature of the human person (or instruction in ethics). lnasmuch as these passages also played an important part in the instruction of candidates for baptism,19 Augustine's work On Genesis against the Manichees reflected the catechetical practice of his time.
Method ofinterpretation
At the beginning of his work Augustine tells his readers that some Christians with a literary education had read his earlier anti-Manichean writings and had been pleased with their elevated style. These same Christians had, however, asked him that in dealing with the Manichees he would keep the uneducated in mind and adapt his interpretation of the biblical story of creation to the intellec tual level of persons incapable offollowing complex theological and philosoph ical arguments.20
It can be seen from the present work that Augustine did endeavor to respect "everyday usage" (communis loquendi consuetudo). He cautiously introduces his principles of interpretation,21 he repeats arguments and conclusions and supports individual theses with examples from everyday life22 and from collo
16. See the following introductions: R. J. Teske in his Saint Augustine on Genesis. Two Books on Genesis against the Manichees, and The Literal Interpretation of Genesis: An Unfinished Book (Fathers of the Church 84; Washington, DC, 199 1 ) 3-43; D. Weber (ed.), Augustinus, De Genesis contra Manichaeos (CSEL 91; Vienna, 1998) 9-32; and L. Carrozzi, Sant'Agostino, La Genesi difesa contro i Manichei (Nuova Biblioteca Agosti niana 9/ 1 ; Rome, 1 988) 3-46. See also J. P. Maher, Saint Augustine's Defense of the Hexaemeron against the Manicheans (Dissertation; Rome: Pontifical Gregorian University, 1947). 17. See Revisions 1, 10, 1 (CCL 57, 29); The Literal Meaning ofGenesis V111, 2. See Letter 25, 2 (CSEL 34/1 , 79), in which Paulinus of Nola describes Augustine's On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees, The Catholic Way of Life and the Manichean Way of Life, On True Religion. and Free Will as a "Pentateuch against the Manichees." 18. On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees 11, 29, 43. 19. See Augustine. The Instruction ofBeginners 17, 28—18, 30 (CCL 46, 152-155). 20. See On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees 1, 1, 1. 21. For example, ibid., 1, 22, 34. 22. For example, ibid., 1, 6, 10.