In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

QUESTIONS 57-58 103 Therefore the result is the product 21, i.e., 3 x 7. Moreover, this assumption of humanity has been efficacious for the emancipation of the Church, of which Christ is the head,23 so that the Church itself, because it has a soul and body, is purchased under the sign of the number 7. Accordingly 21 is multiplied by 7 on account of those freed by the Lord's Man,24 and together they become 147. To this is added the number 6, the sign of perfection, because it is equal to the sum of its factors, since nothing less than 6 nor more than 6 is found in the sum. Its factors are 1 taken -six times, 2 taken three times, and 3 taken two times, which added together as 1 + 2 + 3 produce 6. Perhaps this number is also applicable to the mystery of God's having completed all his works on the sixth day.25 Therefore, if you add 6, the sign of perfection , to 147, the result is 153. This is the number of fish discovered after the nets were cast, following the Lord's command, to the right-hand side where the sinners who belong to the left-hand side are not found. 26 58. ONJOHN THE BAPTIST (1) When one has carefully examined the Gospel passages concerning him, it is not absurd to think ofJohn the Baptist as the embodiment of prophecy,1 and this because of many cogent reasons, and especially because of what the Lord says of him: "He is more than a prophet."2 [This is so] because, indeed, he bears the stamp3of all the prophecies made about 23 Eph 5.23. 24 See above, Q. 36, n. 6. 25 Gn 2.2. 26 St. Augustine returns to the number 153 on many occasions. Cf. IE 122.8 (PL 35.1963-64), S 248 3.3-4.4 (PL 38.1160), S 270 7 (PL 38.1244), EnP 49.9 (PL 36.571), and E 55 17.31 (PL 33.219-20). (This list of references is found in Bardy, BA 10, pp. 27-28, n. 4.) See also DDC 2.16.26 (PL 34.48). For a discussion of the authenticity of this Q., see Mutzenbecher, pp. xliii-xliv. The problem is whether section 3 is or is not a genuine part ofQ. 57. Mutzenbecher argues conclusively that it is. 1 propketiae gestare personam. 2 Mt 11.9. 3 imaginem gestat. 104 ST. AUGUSTINE the Lord from the beginning of mankind until the Lord's coming. However, the embodiment of the gospel foretold by prophecy is the Lord himself, and the proclamation [of that gospel] throughout the world from the time of the Lord's very coming keeps on growing. But as for prophecy, it diminishes after the coming of what it was foretelling. Accordingly the Lord says: "The Law and the Prophets were until John the Baptist. From now on, the kingdom of God is proclaimed."4 And John himself says: "That one must increase, but I must diminish."5 This is symbolically represented in the days on which they were born and the deaths which they suffered. For indeed John is born at that time [of the year] when the days begin to diminish [in length], while the Lord is born at that time when the days begin to increase.6 John is diminished by a head when he is killed, but the Lord is raised up on a cross. Therefore, after the prophecy represented7 in John has pointed out as present the one whose coming it had foretold from the beginning of mankind, it begins to diminish, and from then on the preaching of the kingdom of God begins to increase. Accordingly John baptized for repentance,8 for the old life comes to an end with repentance, and the new life begins from there. (2) Moreover, not only among those who are called prophets , but in Old Testament history itself, one infers that prophecy does not keep silent for those who seek devoutly and are aided by God in investigating these things. Nevertheless , prophecy is seen chiefly in the more obvious symboIs : the righteous Abel is killed by his brother,9 and the Lord, by the Jews; Noah's ark is guided as is the Church in the world flood;!O Isaac is led off to be sacrificed to God, and a ram for Isaac's place is discovered among the thorns, as...

Share