Abstract

"Origen's Influence on the Young Augustine provides analysis of Augustine's early career, including his celebrated conversion and the theology of his early writings. The author re-interprets Augustine's early accounts of his conversion and comes to a conclusion which runs counter to the general scholarly view. The main thesis of the book argues that as early as the first phase of Augustine's activity (386-393 AD), he made use of some Origenian works, and basic elements of his early theology were derived from the Alexandrian master. The author provides an analysis of Augustine's first exegetical work, De genesi contra manichaeos, and argues for the possibility that a Latin compilation of Origen's understanding of Genesis existed and was used by Latin authors of the fourth century."--BOOK JACKET.