(1954) 97-107- (continued)
32 ST. AUGUSTINE ligation, examination, or study; it came to be particularly associated with the oral explanations of books or texts. Yet, because its technical sense is the result of a fairly lengthy development in meaning, the term is used in a variety of ways for kinds of sermons lacking exegesis.^^ In this collection of Tractates Augustine uses the term tractatus in its precise technical sense, and these 124 Tractates on the Gospel of John are a perfect example of this particular oratorical genre.
Critical Text
(50) The text used for this translation of Tractates i — io (and ii-2y forthcoming in Volume 79 of The Fathers of the Church series) is that of R. Willems, volume 36 in the Latin series of the Corpus Christianorum. Section divisions within each Tractate correspond to this edition but paragraphs have been added by the Editor. The CCL reprints, with exceedingly few changes, the 1680 text of the famed Benedictine Maurist edition of the works of Augustine; the Maurist text was also reprinted in PL 35. Willems's text unfortunately has a number of deficiencies;^^ yet, granting the need for a new, critical text, one still finds it the most usable text to date. Most problematic are the numerous typographical errors. Where these are significant to the translation, they are pointed out in the notes; otherwise the correct reading is assumed and translated without comment. No attempt has been made to incorporate alternate readings into the translation; where these have seemed significant or notably different, a footnote has called them to attention. Also I have augmented Willems's scriptural citations, quantum per modicam scientiam meam atque investigationem poteram.
(51) The translation of Augustine's scriptural quotations has
92. See C. Mohrmann, Praedicare — Tractare — Sernio," La Maison-Dieu 39 (1954) 97-107-
93. See, e.g., the reviews of G. FoUiet, REAug 3 (1957) 403-405; C. Mohrmann, VigC 10 (1956) 68; and M. Van den Hout, Augustiniana 5 (1955) 296-308.
INTRODUCTION
been conformed as far as his Latin text allows to the Douay
Rheims version since that translation is closest to Augustine's biblical texts. Two modifications have been made in this practice, however. First, the wording has been made more contemporary, and, secondly, sometimes words, phrases, or entire sentences have been taken from the New American Bible (NAB), or the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) revision of the Challoner Rheims version of the New Testament where these translations seemed better suited to the contemporary ear.