A Bond between Souls (Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology): Friendship in the Letters of Augustine

by Coleman M. Ford

Overview

"In A Bond between Souls: Friendship in the Letters of Augustine, Coleman M. Ford examines Augustine's understanding of friendship. For Augustine, friendship is the overflow of love and is essential for building Christlike virtue. Friendship differs by context and relationship but is fundamentally rooted in the reality that, in Christ, friendship with God has been restored. In this sense, friendship is fundamentally a spiritual exercise. With original research rooting Augustine's letter-writing, theology, and understanding of friendship in antiquity, A Bond between Souls helps readers to understand this doctor of the church in a deeper way"--

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683596516
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/09/2022
Series:	Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Coleman M. Ford serves as assistant professor of humanities at Texas Baptist College in Fort Worth, Texas

Table of Contents

Abbreviations xi

Foreword Michael A. G. Haykin xiii

Preface xv

1 Introduction 1

2 Augustine and Spiritual Friendship 13

3 Assessing Classical Models of Friendship 33

4 "Wounds From a Friend" 57

Jerome and Spiritual Friendship as Correction and Christian Love

5 Conversing on Heavenly Things 85

Spiritual Friendship as Mutual Encouragement in the Spiritual life

6 "Be Imitators of Them, as They Are of Christ" 113

Spiritual Friendship With Fellow Clergy

7 "Long For That Divine and Heavenly City": 141

Spiritual Friendship as Civic Counsel in Augustine's Epistolary Exchange with Roman Officials

8 Conclusion 171

Bibliography 175

Subject Index 199

Scripture Index 203

Editorial Reviews

This book opens up the private world of a very public man and deepens our understanding of one of the greatest theologians of all time.

—Gerald Bray, research professor, Beeson Divinity School

This is a retrieval project for the sake of the spiritual renewal of the church.

—Matthew Y. Emerson, professor of religion and dean of theology, arts, and humanities, Oklahoma Baptist University

In this study, Ford recovers friendship, this overlooked aspect of this momentous figure. He does a fine job of laying out Augustine’s theology of friendship, but far importantly, he stirs up a deep desire for godly friendship in the reader. Augustine would be proud of his disciple.

—Brian Arnold, president, Phoenix Seminary

From the Publisher