Two previously unknown sermons by St. Augustine of Hippo found in Polish library...

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was a bishop and theologian of the early church, widely regarded to be among the Church's foremost thinkers in biblical exegesis. These previously unknown sermons deal with the troubling passage from 1 Samuel where King Saul visits a medium in Endor just before his death in battle.

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The most striking aspect of the new texts is a hypothesis previously unknown to the Augustinian tradition.

“The most notable element of the new sermons is the idea that Saul, after hearing Samuel’s prophecy, could have repented and been redeemed,” Tornau noted.

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.

In these sermons, St. Augustine seems to suggest that even a figure as controversial as Israel’s first king might have ultimately opened himself to divine grace.

“The idea may be an original invention of Augustine’s, or perhaps he had access — directly or indirectly — to Rabbinic Jewish exegesis, which is far more positive regarding Saul,” the specialist noted.

Be that as it may, Tornau said he believes this interpretation sheds light on a fundamental aspect of Augustinian thought.

“His 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” is striking, Tornau commented.

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