A Love of Scripture

Q: Read book 2 of Augustine's On Christian Teaching as well as the very recent article on "How to Read the Bible" linked to on Moodle. Are these two accounts saying the same thing, or can any real differences be found in the positions? And finally, is the philosophy of reading the Bible represented in these readings a positive thing in your opinion? 

A: While both pieces are very similar, and perhaps meant to get mostly the same things across, I don't think that they are necessarily saying the same things. They press some similar ideas, such as being knowledgeable in various languages to be able to better understand the text through different translations, as well as original texts. They also hold very similar views on the benefits of deep investigation of and meditation on the texts, and how it helps deepen your spiritual connection to have access to the scripture through memorization. That being said, they have very different ways of going about pushing their ideas.

Reading Augustine vs. Billings was a very interesting experience. I found Augustine to be much more encouraging, like a very traditional teacher who is absolutely fascinated by and in love with his subject, whereas Billings seemed a bit preachy, as was also mentioned by Peter in his blog. This kind of ties in with the manner in which each author seemed, in my interpretation, to be asking people to pursue this deeper knowledge. Augustine seemed to favour independent study in order to gain a better personal understanding of the text and connection to God, while Billings seemed to reaching for that same connection, but while pushing for a more scholarly investigation that would be better suited to a communal worship setting. Another area of note is that while Augustus put a lot of emphasis on seeing the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) as both separate and as one, Billings really only talks about them as three distinct sources, each with their own unique purpose.

Overall, I felt that both texts were positive in their approach to the scripture. It was obvious that both authors sincerely revered God and the Bible, and sought a more profound understanding of their holy text, and felt that others would benefit from doing so as well. Neither treat the text as superfluous, although Augustus did mention earlier in Book 1 that once the connection with God is made, scripture is not necessary. All-in-all, their appreciation and attention to the text is readily apparent.