Augustine's anthropology and consequent epistemology lie in the background of
his hermeneutical theory. Augustine thought that true wisdom lay in knowledge
of eternal truths. Through the presence of Christ enlightening every human being
coming into the world (Jn.1:9), these eternal truths are present. A consequence
of Adam's fall was the darkening of the human intellect. Further, in Greek
philosophy in general matter hinders human knowledge. Man's mind is in need of
an exercitatio animae. For these two reasons man cannot see the truth
directly. Christ could only impart wisdom to man through sign and symbol. It is
the role of the exegete to understand these signs and symbols and then impart
them to the human race.
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