How might premodern exegesis of Genesis inform Christian debates about creation today?

Imagine a table with three people in dialogue: a young-earth creationist, an old-earth creationist, and an evolutionary creationist. Intothe room walks Augustine of Hippo, one of the most significant theologians in the history of the church. In what ways will his reading of Scripture and his doctrine of creation inform, deepen, and shape the conversation?

Pastor and theologianGavin Ortlund explores just such a scenario by retrieving Augustine's reading of Genesis 1-3 and considering how his premodern understanding of creation can help Christians today. Ortlund contends that while Augustine's hermeneutical approach and theological questions might differ from those of today, this church father's humility before Scripture and his theological conclusions can shed light on matters such as evolution, animal death, and the historical Adam and Eve.

Have a seat. Join the conversation.



Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Ojai in Ojai, California. He was previously a research fellow for the Creation Project at the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of Finding the Right Hills to Die On, Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals, and Anselm's Pursuit of Joy.



Note on Citations

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Can Creation Debates Find Their Rest in Augustine?

1. What We Forget About Creation: How Augustine Can Broaden our Horizon of Concerns

2. The Missing Virtue in Science-Faith Dialogue: Augustine on the Importance of Humility

3. Settling an Age-Old Debate: Augustine on the Literal Meaning of Genesis 1

4. "In Praise of Ashes and Dung": Augustine on Animal Death

5. Can We Evolve on Evolution Without Falling from the Fall? Augustine on Adam and Eve

Conclusion: Recapping Augustine's Influence on the Creation Debate

General Index

Scripture Index