volume 5, issue 2, 2013, pages 155-177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsGZFZ8679
Published online: 2013-12-01
Published in print: 2013-12-30

Abstract: The aim of our study is to point out the importance of Psalm titles for Augustine’s interpretation of the Psalms. Though, at first, his relationship to the Old Testament had not been very positive, since the time of his stay in Milan Psalms became his most favourite part of the Scriptures. As a bishop and preacher he decided to uncover their beauty to other Christians which gave rise to his Commentary on the Psalms, a unique work in all ancient Christianity. Therefore he also translated all parts of these “Psalmorum tituli” into Latin, analyzed them in detail and commented on them. Finally, he made up a sort of the “divine point of view” which is necessary for the right understanding of the Psalm poetic in order that we can get abundant spiritual fruit from it. In this paper thus we present some of these Augustine’s interpretations of the Psalm titles (in finem, ipsi David, filiis Core, pro Idithun, pro torcularibus), by means of which we explain the method of his exegetical work.