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Document Details : Title: Augustine's Use of Tradition in the Controversy with Julian of Aeclanum Author(s): LAMBERIGTS, M. Journal: Augustiniana Volume: 60 Issue: 1-2 Date: 2010 Pages: 11-61 DOI: 10.2143/AUG.60.1.3294612 Abstract : During the Second Pelagian Controversy, Julian of Aeclanum accused Augustine of having invented the doctrine of original sin. Julian considered this doctrine as a Manichaean, North African invention that threatened the orthodoxy of the Church and misled the faithful. Often, Julian complained about the fact that the discussion at stake had never been the subject of a council, consisting of erudite and well informed people. In his reply, Augustine made ample use of his predecessors, both from the East and the West, in order to show that the doctrine he defended was in line with what had been taught by the Catholic Church always and everywhere throughout its history. Especially in the books I-I of his Contra Iulianum he tried to offer an extensive dossier in order to answer the objections made by Julian. Also in his other works against Julian, Augustine would appeal to his predecessors but he never did it in such a detailed way. Augustine first and foremost emphasized the absolute priority of Scripture, the source of truth par excellence. The predecessors are described as faithful interpreters of Scripture and as people who have taught what they have learned in the Church: they are first children of the Church and then teachers in the same Church. This article further offers a survey of the way in which Augustine presents his predecessors, showing Augustine's strategic choices, his motives, and his unequal familiarity with his predecessors. Augustine possesses less than basic knowledge about bishops such as Reticius of Autun, but shows to be well informed about people like Cyprian and Ambrose. Much attention is paid to the way in which Augustine tries to refute Julian's accusations by either referring to texts of his predecessors or their authority. Augustine stresses that these predecessors defend the same faith, at least with regard to the essentials of the truth. All are worthy to be members of the board of judges, Julian was asking for. They held their positions long before the outbreak of the controversy and they can in no way be accused of Manicheism. Indeed, some already held these positions before Manicheism came into existence. He regularly makes clear that these authorities were held in high esteem by Pelagius, the 'father' of the heresy. Further, he repeats time and again that accusations against Augustine in fact should be read as accusations directed against his predecessors. Finally, the article pays attention to the way Augustine replied to the critique that he misled the common people: the common people, better than Julian, are familiar with the truth as taught by the Church. At the same time he warns the reader that these simple faithful can easily become victims of Pelagian tactics. |
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