Newly-discovered Augustine sermon tackles Biblical controversy

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Augustine was a North African Christian bishop and thinker from the late Roman world who became one of the most influential writers in Western history. Born in 354 CE, he spent years searching for truth through philosophy before converting to Christianity and eventually becoming bishop of Hippo. He wrote powerful works like Confessions and The City of God, where he explored human desire, sin, grace, and the nature of God. His ideas shaped Christian theology for more than a thousand years and still influence how people think about the self, morality, and faith today.
 

Two previously unknown sermons by St. Augustine were identified in a 12th‑century manuscript (pictured above) held in the Diocesan Library of Pelplin (Poland). Scholars Christian Tornau and Clemens Weidmann argue that the texts are authentic based on linguistic, stylistic, and theological analysis.

The sermons address 1 Samuel 28, where King Saul consults the Witch of Endor and the dead prophet Samuel appears.
 

The sermons appear to be delivered on two different days—Sunday and the following Wednesday—showing Augustine thinking through the problem with his congregation in real time.
 

Note: 1 Samuel 28 is the famous biblical episode known as the Witch (Medium) of Endor, where King Saul, abandoned by God and desperate for guidance, seeks out a forbidden necromancer to summon the dead prophet Samuel.

Augustine thought 1 Samuel 28 was worrisome because it deals with forbidden magic, demonic deception, divine sovereignty, and the limits of human knowledge. The story was considered “dangerous” by Augustine because it can be misread in ways that justify magic, empower demons, or undermine God’s authority.

Augustine thought this story was risky because people might get the wrong idea and think magic is real, demons can pretend to be holy people, or that God would speak through something He clearly forbids. The scene is confusing and easy to misread, and Augustine worried that ordinary believers might start trusting fortune‑tellers or trying forbidden spiritual shortcuts instead of turning to God.

 

 

https://arkeonews.net/two-newly-discovered-sermons-by-st-augustine-tackle-a-dangerous-biblical-mystery/#google_vignette