Augustine on the Will: A Theological Account(Oxford Studies in Historical Theology)

This book provides a framework for Augustine's understanding of will, an aspect of his thought that has proven to be both essential and inscrutable. On the one hand, the Augustinian will is everywhere. It comes up constantly both in Augustine's thought and in the massive literature engaging it. The will is impossible to avoid in almost any treatment of any aspect of his thinking, whether theological, philosophical, psychological, or political, because it is at the heart of his understanding of the human person and therefore vital to his understanding of such diverse topics as grace, freedom, the image of God, and moral responsibility. On the other hand, Augustine's understanding of the will resists direct examination. With the exception of an early treatise on free choice, Augustine never devoted a work to exploring the will in a programmatic way. Likewise, while the Augustinian will is constantly invoked in secondary literature, it rarely receives analysis in its own right. Han-luen Kantzer Komline demonstrates that Augustine's view is "theologically differentiated," comprising four distinct types of human will, which correspond to four different theological scenarios. Augustine's innovation consists in distinguishing these types with a detail and clarity unprecedented by any thinker before him. This account of the Augustinian will gives a comprehensive picture of the development and mature shape of Augustine's thinking on this vital yet perennially puzzling topic.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: Conversions of the Will 1: The Created Will: The Hinge of the Soul 2: The Fallen Will: A Link in Sin's Chain 3: What Is in Our Power 4: God's Gardening 5: The Redeemed Will: A Root of Love 6: Christ and the Will: Agony in the Garden 7: The Holy Spirit and the Will: Intervention and Analogy 8: The Eschatological Will: Full Freedom at Last Conclusion Bibliography Index to Works of Augustine Scripture Index Subject and Name Index

About the Author :
Han-luen Kantzer Komline is Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Professor of Theology and Church History at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan.

Review :
"In her ambitious book Han-luen Kantzer Komline combines a thematic approach to the issues with a flexible chronological structure, demonstrating how Augustine's concept of the will evolved in the course of his career, both in its range and character... this book helps us greatly to understand why his continuous engagement with a theocentric understanding of human willing is at the core of his religious vision." -- Gerard O'Daly, University College London, International Journal of Systematic Theology "For students of Augustine, this is an excellent resource. Komline is not merely writing about philosophy,systematics, or biblical theology but something that helpfully speaks to all of them... for those who are willing, Komline offers nothing less than a masterclass in Augustine that deserves to be read and reread." -- Arthur Rankin, Reformed Theological Seminary "This work should be mandatory reading for any serious student of Augustine, and even the non-specialist who has to teach a class session on the bishop of Hippo will be aided by the lucid interpretations that the author provides. Kantzer Komline's Augustine on the Will deserves to be read and referenced as authoritative for quite a long while." -- Adam Ployd, Eden Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology "Han-Luen Kantzer Komline's Augustine on the Will is a valuable contribution to the broader discussion of the nature and freedom of the will...[Komline] shows a deep mastery of the Augustinian corpus and a broad familiarity with the secondary literature in English, French, and German." -- K. Lauriston Smith, Youngsville, North Carolina, Southeastern Theological Review "Augustine has a reputation for renovating, if not outright inventing, the concept of will, but more often than not his analysts underplay the theology that informs his evolving point of view. Drawing on a deep well of knowledge, both of Augustine's texts and of the voluminous scholarship, Kantzer Komline beautifully attends to the inner life of voluntas. This is a stunning achievement." -- James Wetzel, Professor of Philosophy and Augustinian Chair, Villanova University "Two things make Kantzer Komline's book so valuable: her attempt to read the story of Augustine's thoughts on the will as always a theology, and the sheer comprehensiveness of her coverage. There is nothing in English that offers such a clear treatment of Augustine's developing thought on this crucial issue. Students of Augustine from all traditions need to take note of this volume!" -- Lewis Ayres, Durham University & Australian Catholic University "Augustine has always been regarded as a pivotal figure in the development of the philosophy and theology of the will. This fresh new approach will be a mustread for anyone interested in further work on this important topic. I predict that it will become a standard resource in the field, widely consulted by scholars and useful both in the theology and the philosophy curriculum, in early Christian studies and beyond. This book is highly recommended." -- John C. Cavadini, Director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame