Texts in Conversation
Wisdom of Solomon says God arranges everything by measure, number, and weight. Augustine jokes that his discussion of numbers must not run so long that he forgets weight and measure, applying the same language to his own writing.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Wisdom of Solomon 11:20
Deuterocanon
18 or newly-created and unknown wild beasts, full of rage, either breathing out a blast of fiery breath, or belching out smoke, or flashing dreadful sparks from their eyes; 19 which had power not only to consume them by their violence, but to destroy them even by the terror of their sight. 20 Yes and without these they might have fallen by a single breath, being pursued by Justice, and scattered abroad by the breath of your power; but you arranged all things by measure, number, and weight. 21 For to be greatly strong is yours at all times. Who could withstand the might of your arm? 22 Because the whole world before you is as a grain in a balance, and as a drop of dew that comes down upon the earth in the morning.
Augustine, City of God 11.31
On the City of God Against the Pagans
Early Christian
But, on the seventh day (that is, the same day repeated seven times, which number is also a perfect one, though for another reason), the rest of God is set forth, and then, too, we first hear of its being made holy. So God did not wish to make this day holy by His works, but by His rest, which has no evening, for it is not a creature; so that, being known in one way in the Word of God, and in another in itself, it should make a twofold knowledge, daylight and dusk (day and evening). Much more might be said about the perfection of the number seven, but this book is already too long, and I am afraid that I may seem to be seizing an opportunity to air my little smattering of learning more childishly than profitably. I must speak, therefore, in moderation and with dignity, so that, in following “number” too keenly, I may not be accused of forgetting “weight” and “measure.” It is enough to say here that three is the first whole number that is odd, four the first that is even, and of these two, seven is composed. On this account it is often used for all numbers together, as in “A just man falls seven times, and rises up again,” Proverbs 24:16 — that is, however often he falls, he will not perish (and this was meant to be understood not of sins, but of afflictions that lead to lowliness). Again, “Seven times a day I will praise You,” Psalm 119:164 which elsewhere is expressed thus, “I will bless the Lord at all times.”
Search:
Notes and References
“... Although this anti-Manichaean feature is not directly related to Augustine’s doctrine of grace, I am convinced that the refuted notion of God as dependent on man could have played a role in Augustine’s emphasis on the absolute sovereignty of God’s grace, not determined by the human will, in the way it was elaborated in the answer to Simplicianus. God as the “measure” (summus modus) of everything is not limited by any “measure”. He orders things and imposes structures on them without being limited by these structures: he is a “measure without a measure, a number without a number, weight without weight” (cf. Wisd. 11:21). ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,