Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 11:1 (Spring 2020)
Article: Augustine’s View Of Justification And The Faith That Heals
Author: Peter J. Dubbelman

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Augustine’s View Of Justification And The Faith That Heals

Peter Dubbelman

Apex Baptist Church, Apex, NC

Augustine through the Ages: An Encyclopedia has no entry entitled “Justification.”1 This void, in an otherwise thorough work, draws attention to the tension that still exists between Catholics and Protestants with respect to the doctrine of justification. Many from these two groups root their theology in Augustine. This essay contributes a missing piece to current Protestant discussions on Augustine’s view of justification, ones that do not extensively integrate his sanative theology with this doctrine (e.g., work by Alister McGrath and David Wright). The Augustinian view of justification presented below—a justification that heals, one that is an event and a process—contrasts with a typical reformational understanding of it. The latter emphasizes a forensic declaration by God that confers upon the believer by the imputation of Christ a new and permanent status of righteousness.

Key Words: Augustine, justification, sanative theology, spiritual formation

The thesis defended here is that Augustine understood justification as ontological and sanative, an event and a process where “to justify” meant “to make righteous.”2 Four sections defend this thesis. Section one, “Current Perspectives,” summarizes three recent views of Augustine’s doctrine of justification. This section places this essayist’s thesis within contemporary discussions on Augustine’s doctrine of justification by Alister McGrath, Dongsun Cho, and David Wright. It also makes two points: (a) None of these theologians expound Augustine’s doctrine of justification as it relates to his sanative theology. (b) If this thesis is correct, McGrath’s and Wright’s interpretation of Augustine’s view of justification is bolstered and Cho’s is disputed. Section two, “The Spirit and the Letter,” presents an Augustinian view of justification found in a treatise whose historical reception has been central to the Christian tradition. This section identifies an aspect of Augustine’s doctrine of justification that is central to the above thesis—namely, a justification that heals. Section

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three, “Further Illustrations,” presents this sanative aspect of justification in other parts of Augustine’s works. These examples witness that Augustine held a sanative, ontological view of justification throughout his ministerial career. Section four, “An Objection,” addresses a central concern to the aforementioned thesis by way of various Augustinian prooft...