Questioning Christian baptism: insights from Augustine’s correspondence

Matthieu Pignot

doi:10.1484/J.RHE.5.111946

Questioning Christian baptism: insights from Augustine’s correspondence

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Résumé

Cet article étudie les lettres d’Augustin à des catéchu-
mènes ou à leur sujet (Ep. 258 à Marcianus, Ep. 151 à Caecilianus, Ep.
2* à Firmus, Ep. 227 probablement à Alypius). Il s’agit à la fois de réfu-
ter le stéréotype, dans l’antiquité tardive, de masses de catéchumènes
indifférents, retardant le baptême jusqu’à la mort et l’idée que les caté-
chumènes ne représentaient pas un enjeu pastoral pour les évêques. Les
catéchumènes pouvaient prendre une part particulièrement active aux
communautés chrétiennes tout en préférant adhérer au christianisme
très progressivement, considérant le baptême comme un aboutissement
plutôt que comme un début. Les lettres témoignent de cette négociation des signes normatifs d’appartenance à la communauté, les catéchumènes
constituant un enjeu essentiel pour Augustin tandis qu’il propose une
définition plus nette de l’appartenance fondée sur le baptême. L’article
propose également d’identifier Firmus dans Ep. 2* avec Gabinianus dans
Ep. 227 et de dater par conséquent Ep. 227 probablement en 429.

langue originale	Anglais
Pages (de - à)	452-482
journal	Revue d'histoire ecclésiastique
Volume	111
Numéro de publication	3-4
Les DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1484/J.RHE.5.111946
Etat de la publication	Publié - 2016

mots-clés

Conversion
Antiquité tardive
Afrique romaine
Augustin d'Hippone
Correspondance
Baptême
Catéchuménat
Catéchumène

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title = "Questioning Christian baptism: insights from Augustine{\textquoteright}s correspondence",

abstract = "This article explores letters Augustine wrote to or about catechumens (Ep. 258 to Marcianus, Ep. 151 to Caecilianus, Ep. 2* to Firmus and Ep. 227 (probably sent to Alypius). It argues against the indifferent mass stereotyping of catechumens in late antiquity, postponing baptism until death and the idea that catechumens did not represent a pastoral challenge for bishops. (Catechumens might be deeply involved in Christian communities while still preferring to adopt Christianity quite gradually, considering baptism to be the climax rather than the starting point of their religious experience.) The letters convey the sense of an ongoing negotiation on the normative markers of Christian belonging, with catechumens representing a crucial challenge for Augustine as he argued for a more clear-cut definition of belonging, centred around baptism. The article also discusses a new identification, suggesting that Firmus in Ep. 2* and Gabinianus in Ep. 227 are the same individual and thus dating Ep. 227 after Ep.2*, probably to 429.",

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author = "Matthieu Pignot",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1484/J.RHE.5.111946",

language = "English",

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pages = "452--482",

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PY - 2016

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AB - This article explores letters Augustine wrote to or about catechumens (Ep. 258 to Marcianus, Ep. 151 to Caecilianus, Ep. 2* to Firmus and Ep. 227 (probably sent to Alypius). It argues against the indifferent mass stereotyping of catechumens in late antiquity, postponing baptism until death and the idea that catechumens did not represent a pastoral challenge for bishops. (Catechumens might be deeply involved in Christian communities while still preferring to adopt Christianity quite gradually, considering baptism to be the climax rather than the starting point of their religious experience.) The letters convey the sense of an ongoing negotiation on the normative markers of Christian belonging, with catechumens representing a crucial challenge for Augustine as he argued for a more clear-cut definition of belonging, centred around baptism. The article also discusses a new identification, suggesting that Firmus in Ep. 2* and Gabinianus in Ep. 227 are the same individual and thus dating Ep. 227 after Ep.2*, probably to 429.

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KW - conversion

KW - letters

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KW - late antiquity

KW - late roman Africa

KW - baptism

KW - Conversion

KW - Antiquité tardive

KW - Afrique romaine

KW - Augustin d'Hippone

KW - Correspondance

KW - Baptême

KW - Catéchuménat

KW - Catéchumène

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EP - 482

JO - Revue d'histoire ecclésiastique

JF - Revue d'histoire ecclésiastique

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ER -

Questioning Christian baptism: insights from Augustine’s correspondence

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mots-clés

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