Kimberly Baker: A Preached Theology: Augustine’s Doctrine of the Totus Christus

This paper proposes that pastoral ministry is the crucible for Augustine’s doctrine of the totus
Christus, the whole Christ with Christ as Head and the Church as body. In particular, the paper examines the significance of preaching as the context in which the doctrine develops. It argues that the doctrine of the totus Christusis a preached theology. That is, Augustine did more than apply theology when preaching on the totus
Christus. Rather, he discovered and
refined his theological insights through the craft of preaching. The paper begins with the roots of the doctrine in Augustine’s exegesis of the Psalms when, as a new priest, he prepares for a life of pastoral leadership through an intense study of Scripture. Next, it shows the doctrine coming to life in his preaching, especially to the newly baptized, as Augustine shapes the community’s awareness of its shared identity with Christ and of the implications that identity has for its life in the world. Then the paper turns to further development of the doctrine of the totus Christus in the wake of the Donatist schism as Augustine preaches of the need for reconciliation and unity among Christians in order that they may live authentically as the one body of Christ. Through consideration of the doctrine’s development in the context of Augustine’s preaching, the paper shows that Augustine did the work of theology not only at his worktable but also in the church, through his pastoral ministry within the Christian community.