De Genesi ad Litteram

Augustine's mature exegetical work on Genesis, treating the creation account in its literal and historical sense across twelve books.

Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)

• In the Beginning: Nine Interpretations — Cited (Book I, ch. 1) on "in the beginning" meaning "in the first origin of time"

  "St. Augustine, book I of On the Literal Interpretation of Genesis, ch. 1; Ambrose and Basil, homily 1 on the Hexameron: "In the beginning," they say, that is, in the first origin or start, not of eternity, not of aeviternity, but of time and of the world"

• Heaven and Earth: Four Interpretations — Cited (Book I, ch. XIV) on prime matter endowed with form in the same instant of time

  "the same Augustine, book I of On Genesis Literally, chapter XIV, adds that this matter was endowed and adorned with its form in the very same instant of time."

• Verse 2: And the earth was without form and void — Cited (Book I, ch. 7) on the Holy Spirit borne over the waters as a craftsman's will over his work

  "just as the will and idea of a craftsman is borne over the things to be fashioned, says St. Augustine, Book I of On Genesis Literally, ch. 7."

• Verse 5: And He called the light Day — Cited (Book IV) as wanting the six days understood mystically, holding all things created simultaneously

  "St. Augustine, Book IV of On Genesis Literally, and Book XI of The City of God, ch. 7, wants these days to be understood mystically; for he seems to hold that all things were created simultaneously by God on the first day"

• Verse 20: Let the Waters Bring Forth — Cited (Book III, ch. 3) on fish made from denser water, birds from more rarefied water

  "St. Augustine responds, Book III On the Literal Meaning of Genesis, chapter 3, and St. Thomas, Part I, Question 71, article 1, that fish were made from denser water; but birds from more rarefied water, which approaches the nature of air."

• Verse 22: And He Blessed Them, Saying: Increase and Multiply — Cited (Book III, ch. 13) on the blessing of fish/birds understood for land animals also

  "as St. Augustine rightly observes, Book III On the Literal Meaning of Genesis, chapter 13, what is expressed in one case ought equally to be understood in the other similar case."

• Verse 24: Let the Earth Bring Forth the Living Creature — Cited (Book III, ch. 14) on tiny animals created potentially in seminal principles

  "so St. Augustine, Book III On the Literal Meaning of Genesis, chapter 14, although St. Basil here in Homily 7 seems to teach the contrary."

• Verse 24: Let the Earth Bring Forth the Living Creature — Cited (Book III, ch. 16) on whether animals were hostile to each other before Adam's sin

  "St. Augustine, Book III On the Literal Meaning of Genesis, chapter 16, although Augustine himself seems to retract this in Book I of the Retractions, chapter 10"

• Verse 14: Let There Be Lights in the Firmament — Cited (Book XIII, ch. 13, in the Unfinished Work) on stars as signs of unchangeable eternity

  "St. Augustine, book XIII On Genesis Literally, ch. 13, in the Unfinished Work"

• Verse 31: And God Saw All Things That He Had Made, and They Were Very Good — Cited (Book III, ch. 24) on why God did not say "it was good" after man's creation

  "St. Augustine brings two other reasons in Book 3 of On the Literal Meaning of Genesis, ch. 24."

• Verse 26: Let Us Make Man in Our Image and Likeness — Cited (Book VI, ch. 12) on the body not properly bearing the image of God but reflecting it

  "So St. Augustine, Book VI of On Genesis Literally, chapter 12, and Bernard, Sermon 24 on the Song of Songs."

Related

• St. Augustine of Hippo
• Creation