Charity and pastoral power : a reconsideration of political augustinianism

Scholars of political Augustinianism have interpreted Augustine's 'Christian emperor' as someone who exercises pastoral care (e.g., Williams, 1987; Milbank, 1990; Dodaro, 2004; Kaufman, 2017). This central historical claim of political Augustinianism is established, in part, by associating Emperor Theodosius's confession and repentance with Pauline humility in civ. 5.26. By comparing what Augustine finds praiseworthy in Theodosius's acts of love in civ. 5.25 with his own love-driven actions in ep. 185 (De correctione Donatistarum) and his comments on the relationship between charity and correction in the recently discovered Erfurt Sermons (esp. s. 350D/Erlurt 2), I contend that the association between the Apostle and Emperor must be extended to consider the ways in which Theodosius is portrayed as taking up Pauline correctio cum caritate.
Through the association of Theodosius with Pauline correction, Augustine has subtly incorporated a coercive pastoral rule in the Emperor's vocation, one that sits awkwardly beside his positive appraisal of Theodosius as a humble ruler. In conclusion, I offer some programmatic suggestions about how we might recast political Augustinianism in light of the deeply ambivalent nature of love for Augustine.

© Peeters Publishers, 2021.