This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. May 29, 2003 st augustine of hippo, the great doctor of the latin church, was born at thagaste in north africa, in a. However, in 387 he renounced all his unorthodox beliefs and was baptized into christianity. The confessions, city of god, and selected letters are available in the loeb classical library harvard university press. In 1990, new city press, in conjunction with the augustinian heritage institute, began the project known as the works of saint augustine, a translation for the 21st century. Jul 03, 2002 the chadwick translation has that and many, many more notes on augustine s history and on lexical matters. Augustine, a passionate, deeply honest autobiographical account of augustines journey toward faith, has been a source of spiritual guidance and intellectual nourishment for millions of people throught the centuries. Saint augustine sparknotes philosophy guide buy now. Volume 1 is the text and and the other two volumes are commentaries. Augustines confessions is one of the most influential and most innovative works of latin literature. Augustine in order to distinguish the book from other books with similar titles. Out of the dark concupiscence of the flesh and the effervescence of youth exhalations came forth which obscured and overcast.
Sheeds translation captures augustines poetic verve better than any other ive read. The confessions, 2nd ed a translation for the 21st century. The most widely used translation of the confessions is the one by a mr. Out of the dark concupiscence of the flesh and the effervescence of youth exhalations came forth which. Augustine s life in the context of the roman empire, an annotated map of his travels, and art.
St augustine of hippo, the great doctor of the latin church, was born at thagaste in north africa, in a. Professor of theology perkins school of theology southern methodist university dallas, texas first published mcmlv library of congress catalog card number. Like the first hackett edition of the augustine s confessions, the second edition features f. Confessiones is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by st. And as you read his confessions, you will find the confident humility that is common among those whom jesus calls great in the kingdom of heaven. Even those who disagree with him must still interact with the effects of his thought. A major influence over christianity and western philosophy, augustine was a bishop of hippo regius in the roman province of africa. The confessions of saint augustine is considered one of the greatest christian classics of all time. This translation is part of schaffs 38vol church fathers series printed by hendriksen. Confessions newly translated and edited by albert c.
The confessions of saint augustine, by saint augustine. Which translation of augustines confessions is the easiest. Augustine of hippo, written in latin between ad 397 and 400. The confessions, spiritual selfexamination by saint augustine, written in latin as confessiones about 400 ce. Chadwicks translation of augustine s confessions note that this is a confession to god, while read by men is one of the best. St augustine of hippo, the great doctor of the latin church, was born at thagaste in north africa, in 354 ce. Augustine s elegant rhetorical style is on display throughout this opening section and throughout the confessions, he will rely on almost musical passages as he attempts to express gods transcendent greatness and unfailing love. There is a lot riding on this choice, which becomes more intimidating when you consider that confessions is one of the most frequently translated texts in history.
There is no need to justify a new english translation of these books, even. Augustine confessions and beowulf, it is clear that the two authors, st. Divided into books, the confessions are autobiographical admissions of his sinful youth and conversion to christianity. Chadwicks translation of augustines confessions note that this is a confession to god, while read by men is one of the best. To make the confessions accessible to contemporary readers, chadwick provides the most complete and informative notes of any recent translation, and includes an introduction to establish the context.
Jan 08, 2019 confessions is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by st. The religious and philosophical value of the confessions is unquestionablenow modern readers will have easier access to st. Confessiones is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of books, by saint augustine of hippo, written in latin between 397 and 400 ad. He was brought up as a christian but he was soon converted to the manichean religion. Maria bouldings version of the confessions is of a different level of excellence from practically anything else on the market. Augustines confessions is not an undertranslated book. Chadwick has another advantage absent from pinecoffin. Augustine of hippo, written between ad 397 and ad 398.
The religions of the world did not just spring into being all set and ready to go. A good translation from the latin might help open students eyes to the method in the madness, while a bad translation might turn them off of augustine for good. The pinecoffin translation is enjoyable, and also recommended, but the boulding translation is much clearer and a great help in the. The confessions of saint augustine outler wikisource. Sheeds ear for that music makes this translation a memorable opportunity to hear augustine s voice resonating down the years. He was the bishop of hippo regius modernday annaba, algeria, located in numidia roman province of. The confessions is in one sense augustines personal story, but it is also a story with an almost mythological or archetypal appeal. I must have read this translation five or six times in those days, years ago when i used to commute to work by public transport. The confessions of augustine is a work of this class. I have read a few different translations of the confessions and this translation is easily the best for the long metaphysical chapters. A lot of kinks had to be worked out firstlike the fact that people didnt automatically accept the idea of a god who wasnt really made of anything, but was somehow everywhere at once. The book tells of augustines restless youth and of the stormy spiritual voyage that had ended some 12 years before the writing in the haven of the roman catholic church. Augustines elegant rhetorical style is on display throughout this opening section and throughout the confessions, he will rely on almost musical passages as he attempts to express gods transcendent greatness and unfailing love. Whats the best translation of augustines confessions.
The confessions of saint augustine outler wikisource, the. To date, 43 books have been published by ncp containing 93 of his works. Buy the works of saint augustine set of 43 volumes. Augustines confessions is arguably the first, and unequivocally the most influential, religious autobiography in the christian tradition. Im looking for something thats comprehensible but doesnt lose the poetry of his writings. It is an extended poetic, passionate, intimate prayer that augustine wrote as an autobiography sometime after his conversion, to confess his sins and proclaim gods goodness. Confessions outler translation saint augustine of hippo 354 430, translated by albert c. Augustine writes as a common man, and so his words span time and tradition. This collection features many neverbeforetranslated editions of his latin writings as well as his beloved and most important worksthe confessions, the city of god, and the trinity.
The confessions is in one sense augustine s personal story, but it is also a story with an almost mythological or archetypal appeal. His understanding of the self, of sin, of redemption, and of sanctification set the tone for all subsequent theology. Augustines life in the context of the roman empire, an annotated map of his travels, and art. The striking language augustine employs to describe his adolescent lusts make the passage especially illuminating in comparing translation approaches. New to this edition are a wealth of notes on literary, philosophical, biblical, historical, and liturgical. The work outlines saint augustines sinful youth and his conversion to christianity. Augustine is a kind of everyman, representing a lost and struggling humanity trying to rediscover the divine, the only source of true peace and satisfaction. Which translation of augustines confessions is the. The purpose of the augustines confessions mobile app is to serve as an annotated interactive sourcebook based on the boulding translation of the books of st.
Chadwicks translation is the one i read first and it is good and maintains some of the silver age latin construction. In the confessions, saint augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. The translator believes this work was written to address god directly, being both a meditation on the workings. Augustine was surely larger than life and this translation is, too. Hi all, looking to read augustines confessions or at least attempt to. Augustine of hippo, written in latin between ad 397 and 400 modern english translations of it are sometimes published under the title the confessions of st. This is what i would call a perfect reading translation i am able to truly read augustine with ease and actually enjoy reading him.
The james odonnell translation is a three volume academic translation. Augustines sublime confessions fairly ring with the music of a baroque eloquence, lavish and stately. The work outlines saint augustine s sinful youth and his conversion to christianity. Written in the authors early forties in the last years of the fourth century a. He was the bishop of hippo regius modernday annaba, algeria, located in.
Jul 07, 2017 heres a brief bit from augustines confessions 2. The purpose of the augustine s confessions mobile app is to serve as an annotated interactive sourcebook based on the boulding translation of the books of st. Augustine originally wrote his confessions in educated but approachable language, intending that his confessions would be widely readable and accessible to the people of his time. Augustine and the poet respectively, differ on their views of death, which helps to paint a better picture of the world that each writer lived in. A lot of kinks had to be worked out firstlike the fact that people didnt automatically accept the idea of a god who wasnt really made of anything, but was somehow everywhere at. The works of saint augustine, a translation for the 21st century will be translated into 49 published books. Augustine who was a hardcore hedonist before his sudden conversion writes about faith with the reckless abandon of a lover. This is a reprint of william watts translation with scripture references corrected according to knolls text, with the help of the translations of pusey 1838 and c. Book i infancy and boyhood up to age 14 book ii fall amongst bad companions, which led to thievery and lust book iii studies at carthage, conversion to manichaeism, and continued indulgence in lust age 1619 book iv loss of a friend and studies in aristotle and the fit and the fair age 2029 book v moving. Modern english translations of it are sometimes published under the title the confessions of st.
Its to hear this voice that she has read st augustine her whole life, almost in secret almost in secret. The standard text of the confessions is divided by augustine s own book numbers and chapter or section numbers. He was rector of st alban, wood street, london, served as chaplain to prince rupert of the rhine, and published a translation of augustines confessions in 1631. Augustines writings are useful to anyone interested in patristics, church history, theology, and western civilization. However, in 387 he renounced all his unorthodox beliefs and was baptised. Modern english translations of it are sometimes published under the title the confessions of saint augustine in order to. Many scholars consider saint augustine to be among the greatest and most influential fathers of the early church.
The first characteristic that strikes the reader is, the singular mingling of metaphysical and devotional elements in the work. Chadwicks lucid translation and helpful introduction clear the way for a new experience of this classic. Augustine in order to distinguish the book from other books with similar. Confessions augustine wikisource, the free online library. Why are we still reading the confessions in the 21st century, and how should we read the text in translation. With extraordinary candor and psychological acumen, augustine recounts his passage from a life of sensuality, manichaean.
This is a reprint of william watts translation with scripture references corrected according to knolls text, with the help of the translations of. The standard text of the confessions is divided by augustines own book numbers and chapter or section numbers. This contemporary translation of augustines confessions was like meeting an old friend and touching perennial truth, despite the passing years. Her translation of augustines confessions is her first booklength translation of sacred literature. A reader limiting herself to modern translations could avail herself of the english vicar. Boulding as well as reading the original latin and it is worth learning latin just to read augustine, all three are great.
Her translation combines the linguistic accuracy demanded by 4thcentury latin with the poetic power aimed at by augustine, not as discernable in previous translations. Learn from the autobiographical work of one of the most important thinkers of western theology and philosophyaugustine of hippo. The complete works of saint augustine will total 2 works in 49 volumes. The professors explain what translation they are using for this course, and why. Sheeds remarkable translation of this classic spiritual autobiography with an introduction by noted historian of late antiquity peter brown. That was frank sheeds translation of augustine s confessions, which i found to be as living as molten lava. The purpose of the augustines confessions mobile app is to serve as an annotated interactive sourcebook based on the boulding translation of the books of.
Augustines confessions are his bestknown and most influential work, being recognized as the first truly western autobiographical work. Editors have added an additional division of chapters into paragraphs. The app provides audio voiceover for the text, a timeline of st. While augustine is regarded as one of christianitys greatest theologians, the enduring and universal appeal of the. May 21, 2009 my favorite translation is the one by marcus dods. But how didst thou make the heaven and the earth, and what was the tool of. Visit to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our awardwinning nook tablets and ereaders. The chadwick translation has that and many, many more notes on augustines history and on lexical matters.
1516 233 1071 978 1463 1610 151 661 1522 1397 214 1411 32 1140 261 69 589 418 209 20 1570 1245 53 233 1340 408 1180 746 345 148 1363 1383 1241 1098 527 324 1317 388 15