once out of nature

3
• Book Reviews ing trinitarianism is strongly influenced by the thought of G.W.F. Hegel. Eitel begins with a cridcal perspecdve on the normadve 'two Bavincks' hermeneudc applied by most Bavinck-readers undl a series of publicadons beginning in 2011 demonstrated the fundamental flaws in this hermeneudc. (See for example James Eglinton, 'How many Herman Bavincks? De Gemeene Genade and the "Two Bavincks" Hypothesis' in The Kuyper Center Review Vol. 2: Revelation and Common Grace, ed. by John Bowlin [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011] 279- 301; James Eglinton, Trinity and Organism [London: T&T Glark, 2012] 27-49; and Brian Mattson, Restored to our Destiny [Leiden: Brill, 2012] 17-18). While Eitel's willingness to cridque a paradigmadc reading of Bavinck was, in 2008, a bold and highly promising move, it is unfortunate that its 2012 publicadon has not been updated to include significant developments in this direcdon. The fourth essay, Mark Jones' 'Covenant Ghristol- ogy: Herman Bavinck and the Pactum Saluds', provides a helpful and comprehensive discussion of Bavinck's covenant theology in reladon to his historic Reformed sources. Bearing in mind that much of the emphasis in recent works on Neo-Galvinist theology has tended to focus on cultural issues, Jones' work is useful in encour- aging more balance in that regard. The final essay, 'The Status of Women in Gontem- porary Society: Principles and Pracdce in Herman Bavinck's Socio-Polidcal Thought' by Niels van Driel, provides a fascinadng overview of Bavinck's theologi- cal and polidcal understanding of the changing role of women in his lifedme. This paper strikes a good balance between examining Bavinck's theological commitments (pardcularly regarding a theology of culture in reladon to general reveladon) and the historical circumstances reladng to his involvement in the And-Revoludonary Party. It is worth noting that although the papers were written in 2008, the authors do seem to have been given the chance to update their contribudons, albeit in 2010. Various footnotes refer to works published in 2009-2010 (see pages 46 fn 144, 63 fn 16, 71 fn 39, 92 fn 109). It should be acknowledged that these are strong essays, but upon reading them it is hard not to conclude that they would have been stronger had this book appeared a few years ago. James Eglinton Kampen, Netherlands Once Out of Nature: Augustine on Time and the Body Andrea Nightingale Ghicago: University of Ghicago Press, 2011, ix+244, $39, clodi, ISBN 978-0-22-658575-1 ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dieser faszinierende Band ist bemüht, die vernachlässig- te Rolle des Leibes in den Ausführungen von Augustinus über die Zeitlichkeit zurückzufordern. Das Ergebnis ist ein frischer Ansatz zu Augustins Ansicht über die Zeit Einge- schlossen zwischen Eden und Eschaton finden sich die Menschen wieder zwischen der Erfahrung der Zeit durch ihren Leib als ein stets vorübergehendes „Jetzt" und dem Sich-Ergehen ihrer Seele in Erinnerungen, Betrachtung und Erwartung. Diese Arbeit eröffnet sich durch eine sorgfäl- tige Exegese von Augustins Spätwerken und wird gestützt durch Exkurse in seine Ansichten zu Büchern, zur Askese und zum Märtyrerkult Als Ergebnis präsentiert sich ein fes- selnder und originaler Bericht über Augustins Phänomeno- logie der Zeit im Licht des Sündenfalls. SUMMARY This fascinating volume attempts to reclaim the neglected role of the body in Augustine's account of temporal- ity. This results in a novel approach to Augustine's view of time. Stuck between Eden and eschaton, humans find themselves between the body's experience of time as an ever-passing 'now' and the soul's swelling into memories, attention and anticipation. This thesis is unpacked through careful exegesis of Augustine's later works and substanti- ated via forays into his view of books, asceticism and the cult of the martyrs. The result is a compelling and original account of Augustine's phenomenology of time in light of the fall. RÉSUMÉ Cet ouvrage fascinant traite d'un aspect ignoré de la théo- logie de Saint Augustin en s'intéressant au rôle joué par la conception du corps dans le traitement de la tempora- lité chez l'évêque d'Hippone. Il en résulte une approche novatrice du point de vue de Saint Augustin sur le temps. Situés entre l'Éden et l'état final, les humains se trouvent pris entre l'expérience corporelle du temps vécue comme un maintenant perpétuellementen train de passer et l'âme qui tend vers les souvenirs, l'attention et l'anticipation. L'auteur élabore cette thèse à partir d'une exégèse soignée des dernières oeuvres de Saint Augustin, et l'étaye en consi- dérant certains aspects de son point de vue sur les livres, l'ascétisme et le culte des martyrs. Il rend ainsi compte de manière originale et convaincante de la phénoménologie du temps à la lumière de la chute chez Saint Augustin. Andrea Nighdngale teaches classics and comparadve lit- erature at Stanford University. Trained as a Plato scholar, her career travelling between Hellenisdc philosophy and interdisciplinary studies has made her uniquely qualified 86 EJT 22:1

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Page 1: Once Out of Nature

• Book Reviews

ing trinitarianism is strongly influenced by the thoughtof G.W.F. Hegel. Eitel begins with a cridcal perspecdveon the normadve 'two Bavincks' hermeneudc appliedby most Bavinck-readers undl a series of publicadonsbeginning in 2011 demonstrated the fundamental flawsin this hermeneudc. (See for example James Eglinton,'How many Herman Bavincks? De Gemeene Genade andthe "Two Bavincks" Hypothesis' in The Kuyper CenterReview Vol. 2: Revelation and Common Grace, ed. byJohn Bowlin [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011] 279-301; James Eglinton, Trinity and Organism [London:T&T Glark, 2012] 27-49; and Brian Mattson, Restoredto our Destiny [Leiden: Brill, 2012] 17-18). WhileEitel's willingness to cridque a paradigmadc readingof Bavinck was, in 2008, a bold and highly promisingmove, it is unfortunate that its 2012 publicadon has notbeen updated to include significant developments in thisdirecdon.

The fourth essay, Mark Jones' 'Covenant Ghristol-ogy: Herman Bavinck and the Pactum Saluds', providesa helpful and comprehensive discussion of Bavinck'scovenant theology in reladon to his historic Reformedsources. Bearing in mind that much of the emphasis inrecent works on Neo-Galvinist theology has tended tofocus on cultural issues, Jones' work is useful in encour-aging more balance in that regard.

The final essay, 'The Status of Women in Gontem-porary Society: Principles and Pracdce in HermanBavinck's Socio-Polidcal Thought' by Niels van Driel,provides a fascinadng overview of Bavinck's theologi-cal and polidcal understanding of the changing role ofwomen in his lifedme. This paper strikes a good balancebetween examining Bavinck's theological commitments(pardcularly regarding a theology of culture in reladonto general reveladon) and the historical circumstancesreladng to his involvement in the And-RevoludonaryParty.

It is worth noting that although the papers werewritten in 2008, the authors do seem to have beengiven the chance to update their contribudons, albeitin 2010. Various footnotes refer to works published in2009-2010 (see pages 46 fn 144, 63 fn 16, 71 fn 39,92 fn 109). It should be acknowledged that these arestrong essays, but upon reading them it is hard not toconclude that they would have been stronger had thisbook appeared a few years ago.

James EglintonKampen, Netherlands

Once Out of Nature: Augustine on Time and theBody

Andrea NightingaleGhicago: University of Ghicago Press, 2011, ix+244,

$39, clodi, ISBN 978-0-22-658575-1

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Dieser faszinierende Band ist bemüht, die vernachlässig-te Rolle des Leibes in den Ausführungen von Augustinusüber die Zeitlichkeit zurückzufordern. Das Ergebnis ist einfrischer Ansatz zu Augustins Ansicht über die Zeit Einge-schlossen zwischen Eden und Eschaton finden sich dieMenschen wieder zwischen der Erfahrung der Zeit durchihren Leib als ein stets vorübergehendes „Jetzt" und demSich-Ergehen ihrer Seele in Erinnerungen, Betrachtung undErwartung. Diese Arbeit eröffnet sich durch eine sorgfäl-tige Exegese von Augustins Spätwerken und wird gestütztdurch Exkurse in seine Ansichten zu Büchern, zur Askeseund zum Märtyrerkult Als Ergebnis präsentiert sich ein fes-selnder und originaler Bericht über Augustins Phänomeno-logie der Zeit im Licht des Sündenfalls.

SUMMARY

This fascinating volume attempts to reclaim the neglectedrole of the body in Augustine's account of temporal-ity. This results in a novel approach to Augustine's viewof time. Stuck between Eden and eschaton, humans findthemselves between the body's experience of time as anever-passing 'now' and the soul's swelling into memories,attention and anticipation. This thesis is unpacked throughcareful exegesis of Augustine's later works and substanti-ated via forays into his view of books, asceticism and thecult of the martyrs. The result is a compelling and originalaccount of Augustine's phenomenology of time in light ofthe fall.

RÉSUMÉCet ouvrage fascinant traite d'un aspect ignoré de la théo-logie de Saint Augustin en s'intéressant au rôle joué parla conception du corps dans le traitement de la tempora-lité chez l'évêque d'Hippone. Il en résulte une approchenovatrice du point de vue de Saint Augustin sur le temps.Situés entre l'Éden et l'état final, les humains se trouventpris entre l'expérience corporelle du temps vécue commeun maintenant perpétuellementen train de passer et l'âmequi tend vers les souvenirs, l'attention et l'anticipation.L'auteur élabore cette thèse à partir d'une exégèse soignéedes dernières œuvres de Saint Augustin, et l'étaye en consi-dérant certains aspects de son point de vue sur les livres,l'ascétisme et le culte des martyrs. Il rend ainsi compte demanière originale et convaincante de la phénoménologiedu temps à la lumière de la chute chez Saint Augustin.

Andrea Nighdngale teaches classics and comparadve lit-erature at Stanford University. Trained as a Plato scholar,her career travelling between Hellenisdc philosophy andinterdisciplinary studies has made her uniquely qualified

86 • EJT 22:1

Page 2: Once Out of Nature

Book Reviews

to navigate Augusdne within both his ancient contextas well as in light of modern and late-modern interests.

The due of the volume, 'Once Out of Nature', isfrom a line in Yeats' poem Byzantium where an oldman speaks of the yearnings to perfect what is merelyhuman by being transposed into an eternal world. ForNighdngale, this desire to leave our current temporalityresonates with Augustine's understanding of the humancondidon: to be a human is to be an embodied soultravelling in two disdnct types of dme - 'earthly dme'and 'psychic dme'. The former refers to the expedenceof the constant transidon of our bodies in the 'foodchain' (her words, 11). Bodies condnually morph asthey ingest, grow, excrete, mature, procreate, decay anddie. The body is stuck within the ever-passing 'now'.The latter refers to Nighdngale's view of Augusdne'sfamous distentio animi. On Nighdngale's reading ofConfessions 11, the soul in dme swells away from thepresent into past memodes and future expectadons.Thus Nighdngale argues for an Augusdne wfio sees ourcurrent state as a conflicted disardculadon - trappedbetween two temporalides we find ourselves 'residentaliens' (again, her words) unable to coincide with God,the world, others and ourselves.

The first three chapters of the volume refine thisthesis. Ghapter one examines Augusdne's view of tem-porality before the fall and after redempdon. Human-ity's inidal state entailed Adam and Eve pardcipadngin a pdsdne version of earthly dme; they were in dmebut not subject to it. Similarly, the eschaton for Augus-dne will involve resurrected saints rescued ftom earthlydme and equipped with spidtual bodies that keep per-fect cadence with their corresponding resurrected souls.The second chapter explores Augusdne's concept ofhumanity's fall into duelling temporalides. Her detailedexegesis of recollecdons and memory in Confessions10, alongside a treatment of the body's own economy,substandates her reading of Augusdne's understandingof dme in Confessions 11. In chapter three Augustine'sdiscourse of intedodty in the Confessions is unfolded inlight of humanity's discordant temporality. As the bodygrounds the self in the 'now' the mind distends the selfftom the 'now', thereby problemadsing the self suchthat it is unable to coincide apart from God.

The final two chapters apply the preceding discussionto two adjacent quedes. In the fourth chapter Night-ingale explores Augusdne's view of the reladonshipbetween textuality and embodiment. Like the body'sown dual temporality, Nighdngale argues that Augus-dne viewed books as exisdng in psychic and matedaldme. Drawing on a surpdsing parallel between the skinsgiven to Adam and Eve and the Bible itself, she sug-gests the centrality of the text (as we find in Augusdne'sown conversion narradve) was reinforced by the closeassociadon Augustine made between bodies and books.In chapter five ascedcism and the cult of the martyrs areanalysed as dtual pracdces that reinforced the unearthlytemporality implicit in Augusdne's eschatology. Night-

ingale suggests Augusdne's growing embrace of the cultof the martyrs was fuelled by an attempt to link divinepresence with the body's dissoludon ftom our currenttemporality. Similarly, she claims Augusdne's rejecdonof food and sex served as a protest against the unendingcycles implicit in fallen dme.

This is a delightful reworking of tradidonal discus-sions of Augusdne's view of dme in light of what Night-ingale sees as an overlooked development in his doctdneof the body. Her style is accessible, often restadng theargument in ftesh ways such that complex themes aresimultaneously cladfied and endched. Thankftilly, heruse of terms diat find their provenance in modern dis-cussions and her interweaving of contemporary textsand writers serve to awaken the discussion, rather thanhijack the development or mask a flimsy exegesis ofAugusdnian texts. Furthermore, although she is wdt-ing as a classicist rather than a theologian, she does notshy away ftom an unashamedly theological account ofAugusdne's view of dme: St. Paul is given more atten-don than Adstode and Augusdnian dme is developed asa distincdy post lapsum dynamic.

Yet her claim that Augusdne believed the body hadits own temporality is a bold one. The extensive andendudng debate on Augusdne's view of dme ensuresher thesis steps onto a busy field with hard won posi-dons clearly drawn. Two things are needed to help but-tress her novel and intdguing thesis. First, in addidon toher work on Paul, some will want more cladty on howthe body's temporality relates to the temporal embed-dedness of Augusdne's Ghdstology. Secondly, in spiteof her insistence that Augusdne placed body and soul ina deep inter-dependency, it is quesdonable if her trans-humanist Augusdne is a bit too ascedc. (Although theresurrected body is out of time, is it completely 'out ofnature'?) These concerns notwithstanding, Nighdngalehas done a tremendous service to Augusdne studies suchthat any future work on his anthropology must take intoaccount this evocadve case for a robusdy Augusdnianawareness of the phenomenology of embodiment.

Roberts. CovoloPasadena, California

Predestination: Biblical and Theological PathsMatthew Levering

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011; hb, 288 pp.,$110; ISBN: 978-0-19-960452-4

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDieses Buch eines römisch-katholischen Theologen greiftden weithin belächelten Begriff der Prädestination auf mitdem Argument, dass der Leser mit Prädestination in derSchrift selbst konfrontiert wird. Levering hebt zwei schein-bar gegensätzliche Konzepte hervor: zum einen, dassGott alle Menschen liebt und ihre Errettung will, und zumanderen, dass Gott in Wirklichkeit nur einige errettet. Der

EJT 22:1 • 87

Page 3: Once Out of Nature

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