Adam Trettel: God's "ostendere": the development of a theme in the later Augustine

In City of God 14, just before the famous two-loves summary at the end of the book, Augustine says that, in the events of the Fall, God wished to show ("ostendere") Adam and Eve the difference between the evil of their pride and the good of his grace (14.27). A few lines before, he says that, in the same events, God wished to demonstrate ("demonstraret") both to humans and angels what a difference there was between his protection and human presumption (ibid.). This short paper takes this passage as an opportunity to explore the development of Augustine's discussion of God's "ostendere" in his later writings, particularly as it relates to his concept of grace. A comparison with a passage at De peccatorum meritis et remissione 2, for instance, will relate the "ostendere" theme to the exchange with Marcellinus in the early 410’s concerning sinlessness. An exploration of De doctrina 1 will draw a comparison to a Christian wanting to “show” (“cupit ostendere”) the actions of Christ to a friend, as if s/he were driving up enthusiasm for a star actor. Relevant passages from the sermons or letters will also be explored, as well as possible connections to the classical tradition. “Showing” will be shown to be an area of both human and divine action, but a question will be asked whether Augustine in his later writings tends to emphasize the efficacy of God’s endeavours on this front more than humans’.