Teaching, especially teaching the Bible and the Christian faith, comprises a major part of the nature and practice of the Christian pastoral ministry. This has been the case since the beginning of the Christian church, and it continues to be the case today.
Learning, especially learning the Bible and the Christian faith, comprises a major part of the nature and practice of being Christian. Again, this has been the case since the beginning of the Christian church, and it continues to be the case today.
One of our earliest and greatest teachers was Augustine (A.D. 354-430), bishop of Hippo, in northern Africa. You may be familiar with his book,
Confessions (A.D. 397), which is simultaneously a confession of sin, a confession of faith, and even a confession of praise. You may also be familiar with his major work,
City of God (A.D. 413-426), with which he helped the church comprehend and survive the fall of the Roman Empire (i.e., the city of man) in A.D. 410.
You may or may not be as familiar with another profoundly important and foundational book of his, On Christian Teaching (this title is also sometimes translated as On Christian Doctrine or On Teaching Christianity). Augustine began it around A.D. 395, worked on it through 397, set it aside for thirty years, and then finished it in A.D. 426-427. This is a tremendous, step by step book about how to read, how to study, how to learn, how to understand, how to interpret, and therefore how to preach and teach the Bible, as well as an exposition of what the Bible says and what we are to believe. The distinctions he makes (thing and sign, use and enjoy) continue to inform Christian faith and thought down to our own day. The affirmations he makes (the Bible teaches the love of God and the love of neighbor) are as profound a reading of the text as ever acheived.
Part of the beauty of this book is that it is about both the method of study and teaching and also the content of the Scriptures that are to be studied and of the Christian faith that is to be taught in the church. There might be many books about one or the other. This is one of the best about both. And while it is based on ancient learning, it continues to be fresh and helpful today.
It occurs to me that a widespread study of this text by the ministers of our churches could provide the basis for a tremendous improvement in the preaching and teaching in our churches. It also occurs to me that a widespread study of this text by the elders, deacons, and other members of our churches could provide the basis for a tremendous improvement in our understanding of the Bible, in our appropriation of the Christian faith, and therefore in our ability to hear and receive better preaching and better teaching in our churces.
Therefore, I am writing to invite, ask, and urge every one who receives this email to read and study this book. In fact, I am writing also to invite, ask, and urge everyone who receives this email to organize an adult class at the church you serve to read and study this book together.
To that end, I have posted on our Foundation website, at the following link, a few notes (with specifics about the edition of the book and some introduction to Augustine) and an outline for a five session class on this book:
Please understand that I am not at all pretending to be an expert on Augustine! These notes are flawed on every page, and I am sure you could improve upon them. This is not about me. It is about Augustine, about his profound understanding of the Scriptures and of the Christian faith, and about the help he may yet be able to provide all of us. That is to say, the outline is simply a device that is intended to be of help if you might be so kind as to join with me in this endeavor. You may find better guides. The main thing is that we all learn from Augustine both how to study and teach and also what to study and teach. It is a rare and powerful combination.
Thank you for your consideration. The Foundation egages in many things: translations, publications, seminars, lectures, scholarships, and so forth. This is an attempt to move beyond those in a way that can help undergird better teaching, in particular, in many local churches at once. This is an attempt to expand our work and so increase our service to the church. This is an attempt to be of help to you. Please let me know whether this makes sense to you, whether it is workable, whether it is attractive, and whether you may be able to engage in this study. I look forward to hearing from you as appropriate.