On The Confessions as 'confessio': A Reader's Guide

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Description

This is a new guide to reading the Confessions, Augustines most important work, and what is widely known as the first Western Christian autobiography ever written. The Confessions consists of thirteen books, in which Augustine outlines his sinful youth and his conversion to Christianity. Barry David guides the reader swiftly through these complex texts, explaining the historical context, as well as the various philosophical concepts; and considers its spiritual, ecclesial and theological significance. As with other titles in the Reading Augustine series, this book presents concise introductory reading of Augustines work from one of the leading scholars in the field.

Reviews

Barry David's new book offers a powerful and insightful exposition of Augustine's Confessions. By exploring the many senses of its title theme - confessio - David unfolds the work's central recognition: that human hearts can find rest only in praise of the incarnate God. David forcefully argues that this insight is the key to the text's overall unity and carefully follows the inner logic of its 'confessional' narrative, as Augustine spools his developing theological understanding around the story of his life. Grounded in contemporary scholarship as well as in close textual analysis, David's accessible volume will be of interest to a wide spectrum of readers. -- John Peter Kenney, St. Michaels College, USA
Our heart is restless until it rests in you. This line might have made a popular love song yet in fact it comes from Augustine of Hippos famous spiritual autobiography! Long held up as a world classic, this book has been prized for its candid account of its authors heart which so easily becomes our own story as we read it. Barry Davids new book is for these readers, whether they be specialists or simply the curious, keen to take the book in carefully and schematically, on all its many and interlinked levels of operation. David is always erudite and open; determined to show that confessio really is the key to the whole book, from start to finish. It will be essential reading as a new generation sets out to make its own way with the book. -- Anthony Dupont, KU Leuven, Belgium

Author Bio

Barry A. David is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair Emeritus of the Philosophy Department at Ave Maria University, USA.