Jennifer Strawbridge: Dimensions of Sightlessness in the Writings of Augustine and John Chrysostom

The New Testament offers at least four dimensions of sightlessness: permanent loss of literal sight (e.g. John 9); temporary loss of literal sight (e.g. the Apostle Paul); metaphorical reference to lack of knowledge or understanding (e.g. “blind guides”); and a characteristic of one group included in the Kingdom of God (e.g. “the blind”). Within early Christian writings, however, these four dimensions of sightlessness are noticeably reduced. In their use of New Testament texts on lack of sight, early Christian writers limit discussion primarily to sightlessness as a metaphor with a focus on sin, ignorance, and exclusion. This paper addresses the question of how New Testament texts on sightlessness are received in early Christian writings, with a particular focus on the writings of Augustine and John Chrysostom. In the process of this examination, questions will be raised about whether these two early Christian writers do, indeed, limit the dimensions of sightlessness within their writings and the potential influence of such limitations on New Testament interpretation.