Curving Inward
February 3rd, 2011 | Published in Theology | 9 Comments
Pastor. worship leader & author Susan Briehl talks about sin.
Produced by The Work of the People
February 3rd, 2011 | Published in Theology | 9 Comments
Pastor. worship leader & author Susan Briehl talks about sin.
February 7th, 2011at 11:31 pm(#)
Is “curving inward” the definition of peccatum (Latin)? Peccatum means a moral defect which is a species of evil or malum.
If you read Augustine, there is a inwardness that is not sin. It is a retreat into the soul in order to better know God. Read the Confessions and you will see a good treatment of inwardness and sin (esp. BK VII).
February 8th, 2011at 4:10 pm(#)
The Latin phrase I use in this clip is “incurvatus in se,” meaning “curved in on oneself.” Luther uses this to describe sin in his commentary on Romans. He draws on Augustine. Later, Barth will draw on both Luther and Augustine.
Yes, Augustine’s Confessions include a health “inwardness,” but that is not the topic of this clip
Peccatum (L) has come to mean moral defect, but at its root it simply means error or mistake. As I said at the opening of this clip, there is more than one way to describe sin and its effects, but the one that makes the most sense to me is “incurvatus in se.”
February 9th, 2011at 3:38 am(#)
Where does Augustine use this phrase, “incurvatus in se?” It is not in the Confessions. I looked the phrase up in a Latin database of all of Augustine’s works and it appears only as “incuruatus adorauerit” in a sermon. Translated this would be a participle used with a subjunctive: “bending he praised.” If you are using Matt Jenson’s book on sin as a source, then I would check my sources. Yes, there are many ways to describe sin, but “turning inward” is not a good description because it does not get at a specific way in which we turn inward. I can put it this way. Let’s say I disregarded my humanity, and turned outward to other gods or things, would this not too be sin? The problem that is expressed in Augustine is that people do not know how to correctly turn inward, or outward. That is why the “heart” (cor) is the place to start.
Read the De Malo by Aquinas; that is a better treatment of sin that is faithful to Augustine. Pastor, no disrespect, but like Aquinas says at the beginning of the De Ente and Essentia: “A small error in the beginning is a big one in the end.”
March 30th, 2011at 10:18 pm(#)
Refreshingly honest. Thank you for your insights.
May 16th, 2011at 4:51 pm(#)
Phuc – thank you for staying on point. The definition of turning in on oneself could be so broad and so subjective that it is no definition at all.
December 2nd, 2011at 2:44 pm(#)
[...] of those fancy church words. What is it? I am thankful for this faithful and clear definition by Susan Briehl author of Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany. – Lisa [...]
December 19th, 2011at 10:31 am(#)
[...] Susan Briehl, Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1996), p. 34. Used by permission. [...]
December 26th, 2011at 10:31 am(#)
[...] Susan Briehl, Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1996), p. 46. Used by permission. Categories: Someone Said Leave a Comment About Linda ParriottLinda Parriott is on staff at sparkhouse and is the resource designer of Clayfire. /* [...]
January 15th, 2012at 8:23 am(#)
Thank you ever so for you post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.