9 years ago, I posted this quote from St. Augustine describing when intelligent people
should not construe the Bible LITERALLY!
His discussion is important enough for the modern age to reproduce it
here in this new thread:
From his “The Literal Interpretation of Genesis”
(early fifth century, AD), St. Augustine wrote”:
“It not infrequently happens that something [knowledge]
about the earth,
about the sky, about other elements of this world,
about the motion and [polar] rotation or
even the magnitude and distances of the stars,
[or] about definite eclipses of the sun and moon,
about the passage of years and seasons,
about the nature of animals, of fruits, of stones,
and of other such things,
may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience,
even by one who is not a Christian.”
“It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided,
that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so
idiotically on these matters…”
“In view of this and in keeping it in mind constantly while dealing with the
Book of Genesis, I have, insofar as I was able, explained in detail and
set forth for consideration the meanings of obscure passages, taking
care not to affirm rashly some one meaning to the prejudice of another
and perhaps better explanation.”
Footnote: The Literal Interpretation of Genesis,
1:19–20, Book 1, Chapt. 19,
by Augustine, circa 408 CE.
Warning Against Scientific Ignorance:
Augustine’s most famous comment is a stern warning to Christians
who speak “idiotically” or “non-sensically” about scientific topics
(the motion of stars, nature of animals, etc.) while claiming scriptural authority.
The Danger of Ridicule by Secular World:
He argued that if non-Christians hear a Christian “talking nonsense”
on matters known [by the world] to be true through reason and
experience, the world will dismiss the Bible entirely — even on
vital spiritual matters like the resurrection.
The Light of Reason:
He maintained that if a “most certain” truth of reason or
experience contradicts a specific interpretation of Scripture,
the interpretation must be revised.
The Nature of the Six “Days”
Augustine famously rejected the idea that the “days” of
Genesis 1 were ordinary 24-hour periods.
Instantaneous Creation of the Universe:
He believed God created the whole universe simultaneously
(omnia simul), based on his reading of Sirach 18:1.
”He who lives for ever has created the sum of things.”
Literary Accommodation by Allegorical Interpretation:
He suggested the six-day structure was a literary device or
“accommodation” used by the author to describe a complex,
instantaneous act of creation in a way humans could
understand. He noted that the first three days occurred
before the sun was even created, making them
“very, very different” from our solar days.
Rationes Seminales (Principles of Generation):
To reconcile instantaneous creation with the gradual
appearance of life, Augustine proposed the concept of
natural laws of generation.
Seeds of Potentiality (the essence of what
we today refer to as Evolutionary processes):
He argued that God implanted “seed-like principles” or
potentiality into the world at the first moment.
Temporal Unfolding: These “seeds” then unfolded over time,
allowing new things to appear in the world without requiring
new acts of creation from God.
Openness to Multiple Interpretations:
Augustine frequently urged humility and restraint when interpreting
obscure passages.
Avoiding Rashness:
He cautioned against “affirming rashly” one meaning to the
prejudice of another potentially better explanation.
**
Charity in Interpretation:**
In The Confessions, he argued that multiple valid
interpretations of the same passage could exist
as long as they did not negate faith.
Symbolic Depth of Allegory:
For Augustine, a passage appearing to be “literally” historical
did not prevent it from having a more important and profound
symbolic or “spiritual” meaning.
See Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding