Friendship in the Letters of Augustine
COLEMAN M. FORD
STUDIES IN HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
A Bond Between Souls: Friendship in the Letters of Augustine
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
Copyright 2022 Coleman M. Ford
Lexham Academic, an imprint of Lexham Press
1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission.
Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version. Public domain.
Print ISBN 9781683596509
Digital ISBN 9781683596516
Library of Congress Control Number 2022941541
Lexham Editorial: Todd Hains, Caleb Kormann, Abigail Stocker, John Barach, Mandi Newell
Cover Design: Brittany Schrock
To Michael Haykin for your ongoing friendship and encouragement
To Shawn Wilhite who has been an “other self” for many years
Michael A. G. Haykin
2. Augustine and Spiritual Friendship
3. Assessing Classical Models of Friendship
Jerome and Spiritual Friendship as Correction and Christian Love
5. Conversing on Heavenly Things
Spiritual Friendship as Mutual Encouragement in the Spiritual life
6. “Be Imitators of Them, as They Are of Christ”
Spiritual Friendship With Fellow Clergy
7. “Long For That Divine and Heavenly City”:
Spiritual Friendship as Civic Counsel in Augustine’s Epistolary Exchange with Roman Officials
ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers
Acad. Augustine, Contra Academicos (Against the Academics)
Bon. Conj. Augustine, De bono conjugali (The Excellence of Marriage)
Conf. Augustine, Confessionum libri XIII (Confessions)
CSEL Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum
Doctr. chr. Augustine, De doctrina christiana (Teaching Christianity)
Enchir. Augustine, Enchiridion de fide, spe, et caritate (Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Charity)
GRBS Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies
Nat. grat. Augustine, De natura et gratia (Nature and Grace)
NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers
Nupt. Augustine, De nuptiis et concupiscentia ad Valerium comitem (Marriage and Desire)
Off. Ambrose, De officiis ministrorum
Retract. Augustine, Retractationum libri II (Retractions)
Serm. Augustine, Sermones
Tract. Ev. Jo. Augustine, In Evangelium Johannis tractatus (Tractates on the Gospel of John)
Trin. Augustine, De Trinitate (The Trinity)
|
About A Bond between Souls: Friendship in the Letters of AugustineAugustine’s theology of friendship. The letters of Augustine offer a window into his life. They showcase a theologian on the run, working through difficult pastoral issues. They also show another side of Augustine: the theologian as friend. In A Bond between Souls: Friendship in the Letters of Augustine, Coleman M. Ford examines Augustine’s understanding of friendship. For Augustine, friendship is the overflow of love and is essential for building Christlike virtue. Friendship differs by context and relationship but is fundamentally rooted in the reality that, in Christ, friendship with God has been restored. In this sense, friendship is fundamentally a spiritual exercise. With original research rooting Augustine’s letter-writing, theology, and understanding of friendship in antiquity, A Bond between Souls helps readers to understand this doctor of the church in a deeper way. |
| Support Info | fordshst |