Words and the Word: Augustine's preached theology of language

What can we learn from Augustine's preaching about the nature and purpose of preaching? In this paper, I will argue that in his preaching Augustine presents to his audience a theology of words and the Word that achieves what it declares; that is to say, rather than a mere doctrinal curiosity, Augustine's preached theology of words and the Word accomplishes a homiletical goal that transcends the transmission of an idea and, instead, guides the faithful listener's heart towards the eternal Word of God through the temporal words of the preacher and the written words of scripture. To put it another way, Augustine's theology of words and the Word is both a theological claim and a practical pastoral tool.