Catena Fidei

Search

Search arguments, verses, authorities and passages

Saint Augustine in His Study (detail), Sandro Botticelli

Catena Aurea on Luke 16:22–26: Augustine of Hippo

Sandro Botticelli, Saint Augustine in His Study (detail), c. 1480 · Ognissanti, Florence · Public domainSandro Botticelli, Saint Augustine in His Study (detail), c. 1480, Ognissanti, Florence

CommentAugustine of HippoPublic domainLuke 16:22–26

Thou sayest that the members of the soul are here described, and by the eye thou wouldest have the whole head understood, because he was said to lift up his eyes; by the tongue, the jaws; by the finger, the hand. But what is the reason that those names of members when spoken of God do not to thy mind imply a body, but when of the soul they do? It is that when spoken of the creature they are to be taken literally, but when of the Creator metaphorically and figuratively. Wilt thou then give us bodily wings, seeing that not the Creator, but man, that is, the creature, says, If I take not the wings in the morning? (Ps. 139:9.) Besides, if the rich man had a bodily tongue, because he said, to cool my tongue, in us also who live in the flesh, the tongue itself has bodily hands, for it is written, Death and life are in the hands of the tongue. (Prov. 18:21.)

Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).

Also cites: de Orig. Anim. 4. 16.

Read the full text

Connections

Part of · 1

Verses cited · 2

Comments on · 5

Around this entry

Open the whole map
  • Passages
  • Old Testament verses
  • New Testament verses
  • Documents
  • Authorities
  • Favorites
  • prefigures → fulfilled
  • taught → disciple · succeeded →

Hover to trace, click to select, double-click to open.