(CCL 39, 672f.) 67, 39 (CCL 39, 896f.); True Religion 8,15 (CCL 32, 1 97f.); City ofGod XV1,
Introduction 35 and interpretations of Genesis, his first work in this area is still not without its importance. The majority of the problems discussed in detail in the later works are already addressed in On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees. So, too, the answers later offered to these questions are given here in at least a basic way. The teaching on the city of God (1, 23, 38-41 ), the psychological analysis of the sinful act (ll, 14, 21),48 the essence of sin as pride, worship of the sinner's ego, and rebellion against God (ll, 1 5, 42), the doctrine of the various senses of scripture
(lI, 2, 3), the theory of illumination (ll, 16, 23-24), and, finally, the idea of the rationes seminales are but a few examples.
Anyone wishing to study the development of Augustine's theology, cosmology, anthropology, and conception of history will find in this work many anticipations of his later views. At the same time, the beginning stage repre sented by On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees makes it possible to measure the progress which Augustine made over the years in his exegetical method, theological terminology, and thinking about God, the world, and humanity. His first commentary gives evidence of the truth of the programmatic statement made at the beginning of this work. As he will later on in other contro versies, Augustine here too appeals to the Pauline axiom in 1 Corinthians 9: 1 1 in order to emphasize the deepening of the faith occasioned by the questioning of the heterodox. In not a few cases, it has been the stimulus of heretical views that has raised up theologians in the Church who have more deeply penetrated and better attested to the truth of the Christian creed.49
48. See On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees 1, 2, 2. See Expositions of the Psalms 54, 22 (CCL 39, 672f.) 67, 39 (CCL 39, 896f.); True Religion 8, 1 5 (CCL 32, 197f.); City of God XV1, 2 (CCL 48, 499). See Y. Congar, "Die Wesenseigenschaften der Kirche," in J. Feiner and M Lohrer (eds.),Mysterium salutis 1V/1 (Einsiedeln, 1971), 357-599, especially 442-445; H. Grundmann, "Oportet haereses esse. Das Problem der Ketzerei im Spiegel der mittelaterlichen Bibelexegese/Mrc/tiv/ur Kulturgeschichte 45 (1963) 129-164, especially
148-152. 49. See On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees 1, 2, 2. See Expositions of the Psalms 54, 22 (CCL 39, 672f.) 67, 39 (CCL 39, 896f.); True Religion 8,15 (CCL 32, 1 97f.); City of God XV1, 2 (CCL 48, 499). See Y. Congar, "Die Wesenseigenschaften der Kirche," in J. Feiner and M. Lohrer (eds.), Mysterium salutis 1V/1 (Einsiedeln, 1971), 357-599, espec. 442-45; H. Grundmann, "Oportet haereses esse. Das Problem der Ketzerei im Spiegel der mittelaterlichen Bibelexegese," Archiv fur Kulturgeschichte 45 (1963) 129-164, especially
148-152.