The law of freedom is the law of love. Some remarks on Christian liberty in Augustineʼs thinking.

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Andoková, M. (2018). The law of freedom is the law of love. Some remarks on Christian liberty in Augustineʼs thinking, (47), 249-262. Retrieved from http://emu.f.bg.ac.rs/lucidaintervalla/issues/47(2018).pdf
Details
Title

The law of freedom is the law of love. Some remarks on Christian liberty in Augustineʼs thinking.

Subtitle
Author

Marcela, Andoková

Journal

Lucida intervalla

Volume
Issue

47

Start page

249

End page

262

ISSN

1450-6645

ISBN
DOI
URL

http://emu.f.bg.ac.rs/lucidaintervalla/issues/47(2018).pdf

Date

2018

Abstract

We encounter the term “liberty” (libertas) in many places of Augustine’s writings. Basically, he uses it in two different contexts: politically and religiously. However, he does not provide a systematic definition of the term in either category, although in the period of the anti-Pelagian controversy his ideas develop into an informal definition of the term. In this paper, I briefly summarize some basic aspects of the term liberty as it is presented in the political as well as in the religious contexts, and then I focus mostly on his concept of Christian liberty which is the term Augustine uses whenever he talks about the true liberty manifested by the real presence of God’s love in man. In fact, this love strenghtens human will in pursuing the good works which the human being is unable to perform by himself without God’s grace after Adam’s fall.

Keywords

Augustine of Hippo, Christian love, free choice of will, good works,, sin, true liberty