About various issues

This publication presents the following works by Bl. Aurelius Augustine: 1. “On various questions to Simplician in two books.” The work was written in 396-397. in the city of Hippo (now Annaba, Africa). The treatise is a detailed response to a letter from Simplician, Bishop of Milan, in which the latter asked the blz. Augustine to explain a number of difficult passages from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans and from the Books of Kings. Book I is devoted to the analysis of two passages from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans, which set two themes for the blessed one’s thoughts. Augustine - law and grace. The first part of the book is devoted to the passage Romans 7:7-25, where the Apostle Paul examines the meaning and role of the Old Testament law. Blzh. Augustine refutes the errors of heretics (including the Manichaeans), who misinterpreted the words of the apostle. For them, the law is a kind of evil that forces a person to sin and gives rise to sin. From here arose the perverse teaching about the so-called “evil God,” the God of the Old Testament. Blzh. Augustine proves the complete inconsistency of these misconceptions. “Law and grace”, “flesh and spirit” are mutually exclusive, opposing concepts and one is unthinkable without the other. The 2nd part of the book is devoted to the topic of Divine grace and election. The author refers to the passage about the election of Jacob and the rejection of Esau (Rom. 9:10-11). It is here that the theory of the blzh is finally developed. Augustine about autocratically acting grace, forcing the consent of the human will and suppressing its freedom. During the period of Pelagian and semi-Pelagian disputes, this theory developed into the doctrine of predestination. Book II is devoted to various passages from the Books of Kings. In particular, blzh. Augustine says that when praying, it is not the position of the body that is important, but the disposition of the spirit. That God also uses evil servants to carry out His just decisions and judgments. Moreover, God is not the cause of evil in them. The reason is their perverted will, but as a wise Manager, God directs their evil to the good of all creation as a whole. 2. “On eight questions of Dulcitius in one book.” The essay was written by blzh. Augustine in 424-425 at the request of his spiritual son Dulcitius. The treatise largely repeats and clarifies those provisions that the author expressed in earlier works. According to the testimony of the blessed one himself. Augustine, all questions, with the exception of the 5th, were borrowed by him from previous works. By topic, the questions can be divided into 2 groups: dogmatic (Questions 1-3) and exegetical (Questions 4-8). In particular, the author provides answers to questions such as: - Is faith without works sufficient for salvation? - is there a purifying fire after death; - does the sacrifice made for them by their relatives help the dead; - location of souls before the general resurrection; - why Jesus Christ was called David, etc. 3. “On eight questions from the Old Testament.” The work was probably written in the 390s. According to researchers, this is not a finished treatise, but probably a sketch for the essay “On 83 different issues”, which was subsequently not included in its composition. The treatise is a brief interpretation of 4 passages from the Old Testament, which are preceded by one brief interpretation of several passages from the New Testament and 3 questions of moral and dogmatic topics. In the comments blzh. Augustine uses allegorical, educational and moral methods. On various questions to Simplician in two books. Book one. (In which two questions from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans are examined) Preface Question 1 Why was the law given? (§ 1) Concupiscence brought about through the law (§ 2-3) How was sin without the law dead, and how did it come to life? (§4-5) Who makes bad use of the law? (§ 6) The law is fulfilled only by the spiritual man. Carnal people are so called in a double sense (§ 7-9) Punishment for original sin (§ 10-11) The law is good (§ 12) What is the law of sin in the members? (§ 13-14) An explanation of the passages from which it may appear that the law is evil. The law does not rule over those who are under grace (§ 15) 3Manichaean error regarding the Old Testament law (§ 16) An explanation of the evidence from which it would seem that the law is not good (§ 17) Question 2 The intention of the apostle. The grace of faith precedes good works (§ 2) The purpose of the apostle in the example of Jacob and Esau. Good works are from grace, not grace from works (§ 3) How is the election of Jacob and the rejection of Esau just? (§ 4) Does the election of Jacob take place according to the Divine foreknowledge of the future faith? (§ 5) Election is by the grace and purpose of God (§ 6) Is faith one of the gifts of grace? (§ 7) Why is Esau's rejection just? (§ 8) Faith is the gift of a merciful God (§ 9) Why was the gift of faith taken away from Esau? (§ 10) Was it not by foreknowledge of the future will that Esau was rejected and Jacob was accepted? (§ 11) Good will in us is created by God's action (§ 12) Does good will come from calling? Convenient Calling (§ 13) Why was Esau not called in a convenient way? (§ 14) What is the hardness that comes from God? (§ 15) The solution to the question of Esau’s rejection (§ 16) All people are one mass of sin (§ 17) How did God, Who does not hate anything He created, hate Esau? The vessels of destruction serve to correct others (§ 18) Not all are called, but from all - both Jews and Gentiles (§ 19) One passage from the book of Jesus, son of Sirach (§ 20) The intention of the apostle. The powerlessness of man without the grace of God (§ 21) The election of grace is a mystery (§ 22) Book two. (In which the other five or six questions proposed from the book of Kings are dealt with) Preface Question 1 The Spirit of God affects the prophets in different ways (§ 1) Prophecy as a permanent property and a temporary state (§ 2) Saul and Peter (§ 3) Why is the evil spirit of God? (§ 4) The words "Spirit of God" without any addition mean the good Spirit of God. Should this Spirit be understood as the Holy Spirit, consubstantial with the Father and the Son? (§5) How was there both a good and an evil spirit in Saul? (§6) Saul, while pursuing David, was seized by a prophetic and good Spirit (§7) Is it possible to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit without love? Without love the gifts of the Spirit are of no use (§ 8) Can one have the gift of prophecy without love? (§ 9) An example for heretics and schismatics (§ 10) Why is the evil spirit called the Lord's? (§ 11) Question 2 About God, man is not able to say anything worthy of Him (§ 1) How do they talk about knowledge and foreknowledge in relation to God? In what sense is it said about the wrath, jealousy and mercy of God? (§ 2) Divine things are called by human names, but must be thought of without any imperfection. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? (§ 3) How can repentance be characteristic of God? (§4) Why do repentance and jealousy seem less becoming to God than foreknowledge, anger, and the like? (§ 5) Question 3 How could Samuel be summoned by a sorceress? (§ 1) Perhaps it was not the spirit of Samuel that was summoned, but a ghost (§ 2) How do demons know the future? (§ 3) Question 4 In what body position should one pray? Question 5 About the words of Elijah, complaining to God about the death of the widow's son Question 6 About the spirit of lying sent to deceive Ahab 3 Conclusion About Dulcitius' eight questions in one book Prologue Question 1 Will baptized sinners really come out of Gehenna? (§ 1) Faith alone without works is not enough for salvation (§ 2) Difficult to understand the words of the Apostle Paul (§ 3) Refutation of the opinion of those who believe that faith without works leads to salvation (§ 4-6) Other words of the apostle, cited in vain by those who believe that faith without works is saving (§ 7-8) What faith of the Canaanite woman aroused the praise of the Lord? (§ 9) The opinion of some that believers and baptized Christians, even if they continue to live in sins, will be saved through fire (§ 10) What kind of fire tests everyone’s work in this life? (§ 11–12) Purifying fire after this life (§ 13–14) Question 2 Does the sacrifice made for them by their relatives help the dead? (§ 1-3) The location of souls before the general resurrection (§ 4) Question 3 Will the future judgment take place immediately after the Second Coming of the Lord and will those who are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord die? (§ 1–6) Question 4 How is the blessing fulfilled over the sons of the righteous in the psalm? (§1-3) Question 6 Was Samuel really summoned by a sorceress from the underworld? (§1-2) Perhaps it was not Samuel's spirit that was summoned, but a ghost (§ 3) How do demons know the future? (§4) Evidence from the book of Jesus son of Sirach (§5) Question 7 How did Sarah escape dishonor at the hands of Abimelech and Pharaoh? (§1–4) Question 8 Was the Spirit of God that hovered over the water the Holy Spirit? (§1-3) Question 5, which is discussed last How could David be chosen by the Lord after His own heart? (§1–2) Why was Christ called David? (§3) Conclusion About eight questions from the Old Testament Question 1. About how many types of violation of universal human righteousness there are Question 2. About the gift of knowledge and interpretation of tongues Question 3. About the Word, Wisdom and Plan of God Question 4. About whether a Christian believer can wish for his own death Question 5. About what is said in the book of Jesus, son of Sirach (Sir.36:20–23) Question 6. About what is said in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 9:12) Question 7. About what is said in Deuteronomy (Deut. 25:5–10) Question 8. About what is said in Exodus and Deuteronomy (Exod. 23:19, 34:26; Deut. 14:21) You might be interested in: