St. Augustine

[Julian of Norwich]

I'm wondering the influence St. Augustine has had on the Eastern Orthodox Church. I know he's considered a Saint to you, but was he as influential to the Orthodox as to the western Church?

 

[GodsGrace101]

I'm wondering the influence St. Augustine has had on the Eastern Orthodox Church. I know he's considered a Saint to you, but was he as influential to the Orthodox as to the western Church?

Why do you think he was so influential to the Western church when he was the ONLY ONE that taught Original Sin and Predestination....

 

[ArmyMatt]

I'm wondering the influence St. Augustine has had on the Eastern Orthodox Church. I know he's considered a Saint to you, but was he as influential to the Orthodox as to the western Church?

as influential? no, but it depends on what the topic is.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Why do you think he was so influential to the Western church when he was the ONLY ONE that taught Original Sin and Predestination....

because his influence was more than Original Sin and predestination.

also, he wasn't the only one who taught those.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

as influential? no, but it depends on what the topic is.

Thank you. I've been wondering that, but now am curious just what he was influential about to the Orthodox? He was helpful in fighting a number of heresies that had sprung up, I know.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Thank you. I've been wondering that, but now am curious just what he was influential about to the Orthodox? He was helpful in fighting a number of heresies that had sprung up, I know.

the Cappadocians and St John Chrysostom had a far greater influence on us.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

the Cappadocians and St John Chrysostom had a far greater influence on us.

What I know of St John Chrysostom impresses me, however I don't know anything about the Cappadocians. I'll find out about them, thanks.

 

[ArmyMatt]

What I know of St John Chrysostom impresses me, however I don't know anything about the Cappadocians. I'll find out about them, thanks.

Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa

 

[Julian of Norwich]

Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa

Thank you, very much!

 

[prodromos]

St Augustine only wrote in Latin AFAIK, and his works were not translated into Greek. There was such a wealth of theological material available in Greek already that there would not have been much motivation to look anywhere else.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

St Augustine only wrote in Latin AFAIK, and his works were not translated into Greek. There was such a wealth of theological material available in Greek already that there would not have been much motivation to look anywhere else.

That makes a lot of sense!

 

[GodsGrace101]

because his influence was more than Original Sin and predestination.

also, he wasn't the only one who taught those.

Hi ArmyMatt
I know that Augustine had a big influence on the Catholic Church and I also wonder if it was the same for the Orthodox Church.

Augustine changed the way Original Sin was thought of.
Before him, infants were baptized but not for the same reason. After him, infants were baptized because it was believed they would go to hell due to Original Sin.
He was the church father that taught the doctrine that Original Sin was imputed to everyone....instead of it having an effect on everyone. BTW, the Catholic Church has changed its position on this stating that infants that are not baptized are left to the mercy of God. In the past it taught that they were lost.

Also, to be quite honest, I don't know of any other father that came before him that taught predestination....I argue this with the reformed and have never found a father, besides, Augustine, that taught predestination (except for some gnostics).

Anyway, any information you give would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

I have not read this book yet, but I still think it might help you OP. It's by Fr. Seraphim Rose called :
"The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church" :


The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church by Fr. Seraphim Rose

.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Hi ArmyMatt
I know that Augustine had a big influence on the Catholic Church and I also wonder if it was the same for the Orthodox Church.

Augustine changed the way Original Sin was thought of.
Before him, infants were baptized but not for the same reason. After him, infants were baptized because it was believed they would go to hell due to Original Sin.
He was the church father that taught the doctrine that Original Sin was imputed to everyone....instead of it having an effect on everyone. BTW, the Catholic Church has changed its position on this stating that infants that are not baptized are left to the mercy of God. In the past it taught that they were lost.

Also, to be quite honest, I don't know of any other father that came before him that taught predestination....I argue this with the reformed and have never found a father, besides, Augustine, that taught predestination (except for some gnostics).

Anyway, any information you give would be appreciated.

Thanks!

actually, the idea of original sin began before him. Ambrosiaster taught it and I think Tertullian hinted at it. both were prior to St Augustine. he just really hashed it out.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Thank you, very much!

no problem!

 

[GodsGrace101]

actually, the idea of original sin began before him. Ambrosiaster taught it and I think Tertullian hinted at it. both were prior to St Augustine. he just really hashed it out.

I've read a little about them.
This is indeed a very compless subject matter.
Ambrosiaster believed in predestination but that men prepare themselves for it with good works and thus will be the called by God.

The Catholic Church also recognizes that good works can lead to salvation. (belief in God).

 

[ArmyMatt]

I've read a little about them.
This is indeed a very compless subject matter.
Ambrosiaster believed in predestination but that men prepare themselves for it with good works and thus will be the called by God.

The Catholic Church also recognizes that good works can lead to salvation. (belief in God).

right, so this didn't originate with St Augustine and obviously had an influence on the Christian West.

 

[GodsGrace101]

right, so this didn't originate with St Augustine and obviously had an influence on the Christian West.

Augustine stated that man is predestined to being lost, but that it's up to man to save himself.

Calvinists have taken this and made it into double predestination which states that each person is predestined either to being saved or being lost by God.

I find that neither Augustine nor Ambrosiaster agreed with this Calvinist view.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Augustine stated that man is predestined to being lost, but that it's up to man to save himself.

Calvinists have taken this and made it into double predestination which states that each person is predestined either to being saved or being lost by God.

I find that neither Augustine nor Ambrosiaster agreed with this Calvinist view.

well, you initially asked about his influence on the West.

and St Augustine never said it's up to man to save himself. that's Pelegianism which was a heresy St Augustine fought against.

 

[GodsGrace101]

well, you initially asked about his influence on the West.

and St Augustine never said it's up to man to save himself. that's Pelegianism which was a heresy St Augustine fought against.

That wasn't me asking about Augustine's influence in the O.P. My question had been WHY his doctrines were so accepted by the church at that time.

As to Pelagianism...I never said Augustine believed what Pelagius did...this is a misunderstanding, I might have worded my post wrongly...Augustine said that God saved a man, but if he falls, he falls alone.

The teaching is different but not worth getting into here.