Kean University Theologies of Irenaeus and Augustine Paper
This writing assignment is to compare and/or contrast the anthropological theologies of Irenaeus and Augustine. Material on Irenaeus can be found in Chapter 2 (pp. 37-38 and pp. 40-42), and material on Augustine can be found in Chapter 3 of your course textbook, Original Sin: Origins, Developments, and Contemporary Meanings, by Tatha Wiley. I encourage you to use your class notes from my lectures as well.
In comparing/contrasting the two writers’ anthropological theologies, you may focus on:
Their interpretations of the Genesis story of the Fall (there’s a whole folder on this in Course Topics > Folder 6: Genesis and Romans). You can bring in Romans 5, if you wish.
Their understandings of the nature of sin.
Their understandings of the question of what does it mean to be human, i.e., their understandings of human nature.
Their understandings of the human relationship with God.
- Their understandings of salvation and the role that Christ played as Savior.
- Any combination of the approaches mentioned above, or you may focus on an original approach of your own that compares/contrasts the two. Just state what it is.
