Panel: SCRIPTURE & THEOLOGY 2025: EXPLORING METHODOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 2nd day



35_2.4 - "IN LOVING HIMSELF, HE PREFERRED HIMSELF TO THE THINGS HE MADE" - DIVINE REST AND GOD'S RELATION TO CREATION IN AUGUSTINE'S INTERPRETATION OF GEN. 2:1-3

AUTHORS:
Brown C. (University of St. Andrews ~ St. Andrews ~ United Kingdom)
Text:
This paper will consider Augustine's interpretation of divine rest disclosed in the seventh day (Gn Litt. IV.14.25-16.27) and in particular the affirmation of an eternal rest in God. The focus will be on Augustine's claim that God rests ab opera as opposed to in opera. It will consider Augustine's claim in Gn. Litt. about the relation of being and act for both God and humans. In medieval theology, this becomes a locus classicus for both the interpretation of divine rest in Genesis 2:1-2 as well as for dogmatically treating divine aseity. The paper will consider potential problems with identifying aseity with divine rest ab opera. Finally, it briefly considers the implications for modern treatments of divine freedom.