{"id":101473,"date":"2026-07-30T15:08:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=101473"},"modified":"2026-07-30T15:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:08:46","slug":"newly-identified-st-augustine-sermons-explore-troubling-bible-passage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/learn\/newly-identified-st-augustine-sermons-explore-troubling-bible-passage\/","title":{"rendered":"Newly identified St. Augustine sermons explore troubling Bible passage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The diocesan library of Pelplin<\/a> in the Pomerania region of northern Poland was unknowingly safeguarding a true treasure.<\/p>\n

Situated next to the imposing Gothic cathedral where Cistercians have prayed for centuries, this depository of knowledge preserved a medieval manuscript whose significance has since come to light.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Paul Alexander Nebauer, an independent researcher specializing in the medieval history of the former Cistercian monastery of Bad Doberan in Germany, contacted Christian Tornau, a professor of classical philology (Latin studies) at the University of W\u00fcrzburg, to propose a mission to him: He had located a medieval codex containing several sermons attributed to St. Augustine and needed help identifying and translating them.<\/p>\n

\n \"The
The shelves of the Pelplin diocesan library in Poland where the St. Augustine manuscripts were housed. | Credit: Pelplin Diocesan Library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tornau, considered one of Germany\u2019s leading specialists on the works of St. Augustine of Hippo and Christian literature of late antiquity, accepted the challenge.<\/p>\n

To an untrained observer, the manuscript might appear to be little more than a collection of aged pages, yellowed in hue with the smell of an ancient document.<\/p>\n

However, the exhaustive philological research conducted by Tornau together with Clemens Weidmann, a researcher at the \u201cCorpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum\u201d (Corpus of Latin Ecclesiastical Writings or CSEL, by its Latin acronym) in Vienna, Austria, and a team of young scholars ultimately revealed a discovery of immense importance.<\/p>\n

The manuscript was copied at the Doberan monastery during the 12th century and may have been transcribed from an older codex originating from Amelungsborn, a historic Cistercian monastery located in the present-day German state of Lower Saxony.<\/p>\n

Of the four sermons analyzed, two were already known to specialists: one recognized as authentically Augustinian and another classified as pseudo-Augustinian. The other two, however, could not be immediately identified.<\/p>\n

\n \"Scholar
Scholar Christian Tornau, together with a score of specialists, confirmed St. Augustine\u2019s authorship of two previously undiscovered sermons. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Christian Tornau<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe transcribed the new texts and began analyzing them with a view to a future edition. We were fascinated, of course, by the idea of \u200b\u200bhaving found new sermons by St. Augustine, but we soon became skeptical because, in some places, the sermons did not seem to have been written by Augustine,\u201d Tornau explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.<\/p>\n

2 years of research to verify authenticity<\/h2>\n

Without letting themselves get carried away by the initial rush of excitement, the researchers wanted to subject the discovery to the highest academic standards before validating it. \u201cOur final verdict that they are authentic is the result of continuous philological work during nearly two years,\u201d noted the German scholar.<\/p>\n

Part of this work was carried out during a summer school organized by the CSEL in Vienna in 2025, attended by doctoral students and early-career researchers specializing in early Christian literature. Following a meticulous analysis of the texts and their transmission into a manuscript, the team concluded that there were no serious objections to attributing them to St. Augustine.<\/p>\n

According to the researcher, although several centuries of textual transmission separate the era of St. Augustine (fifth century) from the surviving manuscript, the document offers a surprisingly reliable version.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral centuries lie between Augustine and this 12th-century scribe, so it is easy to imagine that errors occurred during transmission. Nevertheless, we have a very good text, and with a few critical corrections, we can largely reconstruct what St. Augustine said,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Among the most compelling arguments are the dating of the sermons to late antiquity \u2014 between the fifth and seventh centuries \u2014 as well as the description of liturgical practices that, in Tornau\u2019s words, \u201cwould be unimaginable in the Middle Ages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furthermore, according to the researcher, \u201cthe background is North African, as is evident from the concluding prayer of the first sermon, which is attested only in Africa of late antiquity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specialists also confirmed that the author possessed a profound understanding of Augustinian thought, without, however, merely reproducing it mechanically.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe preacher is familiar with the thought and works of St. Augustine, but he does not simply copy them \u2014 which could be a sign of inauthenticity,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

He further added that \u201cthe sermons contain nothing that could not have been said by Augustine, whether from a linguistic, exegetical, or theological standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

After comparing expressions, arguments, and textual features against the extant body of Augustinian works, the researchers reached a firm conclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the preacher is indistinguishable from St. Augustine, we consider it methodologically sound to accept St. Augustine\u2019s authorship rather than inventing an anonymous \u2018disciple\u2019 or \u2018follower,\u2019\u201d Tornau explained.<\/p>\n

A biblical passage that posed a major theological problem<\/h2>\n

The two sermons center on one of the most complex episodes in the Old Testament: King Saul\u2019s consultation with the medium or \u201cwitch\u201d of Endor, recounted in Chapter 28 of the First Book of Samuel.<\/p>\n

\n \"The
The first page of one of the two new sermons by St. Augustine. | Credit: Pelplin, Ms. 114 (195), fol. 14r (Copyright: Pelplin Diocesan Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the biblical account, abandoned by God and in despair over the threat posed by the Philistines, Saul turns to a necromancer to summon the prophet Samuel. The prophet appears and foretells his imminent death.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis narrative posed a problem for early Christian exegesis. How could a necromancer wield magical, diabolical power over Samuel, a saint of God? Is God unable or unwilling to prevent it? Evidently, this raises the question of theodicy,\u201d Tornau explained.<\/p>\n

According to Britannica<\/a>, theodicy is \u201can explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God permits evil.\u201d <\/p>\n

Before St. Augustine, two main interpretations prevailed. The first held that Samuel had actually appeared, albeit by divine will or permission, and not as a result of magic. The second maintained that the apparition was, in reality, an evil spirit assuming the prophet\u02bcs appearance to deceive Saul.<\/p>\n

What is new is the emergence of two specific sermons in which the bishop of Hippo addresses the matter before his congregation without ruling out either possibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the new sermons, St. Augustine discusses both possibilities along with their advantages and drawbacks and concludes that both are acceptable because neither contradicts the Christian faith,\u201d the professor noted.<\/p>\n

For Tornau, this stance reflects a distinctive trait of the bishop of Hippo. \u201cThis openness to divergent interpretations of Scripture is characteristic of Augustine in general,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n

According to the specialist, this doctor of the Church, one of the most significant and influential minds in the history of philosophy, adopts an attitude far more willing to dialogue than other ancient authors, who tended to engage in harsh polemics against opposing views.<\/p>\n

The great surprise: Saul may have been saved<\/h2>\n

The most striking aspect of the new texts is a hypothesis previously unknown to the Augustinian tradition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most notable element of the new sermons is the idea that Saul, after hearing Samuel\u2019s prophecy, could have repented and been redeemed,\u201d Tornau noted.<\/p>\n

\n \"The
The first page of one of the two new sermons by St. Augustine. | Credit: Pelplin, Ms. 114 (195), fol. 18v (Copyright: Pelplin Diocesan Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the researcher, this interpretation has no parallels in either the known works of the bishop of Hippo or in early Christian exegesis, where the figure of Saul is typically portrayed in a decidedly negative light.<\/p>\n

In these sermons, St. Augustine seems to suggest that even a figure as controversial as Israel\u2019s first king might have ultimately opened himself to divine grace.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea may be an original invention of Augustine\u2019s, or perhaps he had access \u2014 directly or indirectly \u2014 to Rabbinic Jewish exegesis, which is far more positive regarding Saul,\u201d the specialist noted.<\/p>\n

Be that as it may, Tornau said he believes this interpretation sheds light on a fundamental aspect of Augustinian thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis intellectual independence and his willingness to consider that anyone, even those who seem most wicked, is capable of attaining salvation through the grace of God\u201d is striking, Tornau commented.<\/p>\n

For the expert, this insight accurately reflects the personality of the great Church Father who died in the year 430 and whose work has shaped European theology, philosophy, spirituality, and culture for centuries: \u201cThis combines intellectual honesty and episcopal humility in a remarkable and very Augustinian way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next step is to prepare a critical edition of the Latin text with a German translation and a substantial introduction that will explain the history of the discovery; describe the manuscript, its contents and dating; and place the new sermons in the context of St. Augustine\u2019s body of work and the history of Christian exegesis. The publication could appear in early 2027.<\/p>\n

The discovery has already sparked numerous reactions in academic and ecclesiastical circles. \u201cPerhaps also because the pope is an Augustinian, which has heightened interest in St. Augustine,\u201d remarked Tornau, who said he hopes to personally present the future critical edition to Leo XIV.<\/p>\n

\u8fd9\u7bc7\u62a5\u9053 \u6700\u521d\u7531 <\/a>\u7531EWTN\u65b0\u95fb\u65d7\u4e0b\u7684\u897f\u73ed\u7259\u8bed\u59ca\u59b9\u5a92\u4f53ACI Prensa\u63d0\u4f9b\u3002\u5df2\u7531EWTN\u65b0\u95fb\u82f1\u8bed\u90e8\u7ffb\u8bd1\u548c\u6539\u7f16\u3002<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.ewtnnews.com\/world\/europe\/two-previously-unknown-sermons-by-st-augustine-on-the-witch-of-endor-discovered<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The diocesan library of Pelplin in the Pomerania region of northern Poland was unknowingly safeguarding a true treasure. Situated next to the imposing Gothic cathedral where Cistercians have prayed for centuries, this depository of knowledge preserved a medieval manuscript whose significance has since come to light. In 2024, Paul Alexander Nebauer, an independent researcher specializing […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":101476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-101473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-news"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":101197,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/learn\/explaining-the-vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art\/","url_meta":{"origin":101473,"position":0},"title":"Explaining the Vatican\u2019s engagement with contemporary art","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"28 7 \u6708, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Vatican is participating in the international art exhibition \u201cLa Biennale di Venezia\u201d in Italy for the fourth consecutive year. A senior Vatican official explained the Vatican\u2019s support for the exhibition and its recent focus on contemporary art.Irish Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary of the Culture Section at the Dicastery for\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u5728\u201cChristian News\u201d\u4e2d","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Explaining the Vatican\u2019s engagement with contemporary art","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Explaining-the-Vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art.png?fit=1200%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Explaining-the-Vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art.png?fit=1200%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Explaining-the-Vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art.png?fit=1200%2C784&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Explaining-the-Vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art.png?fit=1200%2C784&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Explaining-the-Vaticans-engagement-with-contemporary-art.png?fit=1200%2C784&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101196,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/learn\/berlin-archbishop-after-deadly-attack-on-lgbt-event-hatred-must-not-win\/","url_meta":{"origin":101473,"position":1},"title":"Berlin archbishop after deadly attack on LGBT event: \u2018Hatred must not win\u2019","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"28 7 \u6708, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The archbishop of Berlin has condemned the deadly attack on an LGBT \u201cPride\u201d event in the German capital after a minivan was driven into a crowd on Saturday evening, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 people, some of them seriously.\u201cHow terrible! To brutally destroy such a joyful and\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u5728\u201cChristian News\u201d\u4e2d","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Newly-identified-St.-Augustine-sermons-explore-troubling-Bible-passage.jpg?fit=1441%2C2560&ssl=1","mfb_rest_fields":["title","jetpack_publicize_connections","jetpack-related-posts","jetpack_sharing_enabled","jetpack_featured_media_url"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101473"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101475,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101473\/revisions\/101475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101473"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=101473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}