L’âme à l’état de béatitude connait-elle Dieu dans le corps ou hors du corps ? La réponse d’Augustin dans le livre XII du De Genesi ad litteram

Abstract

Does the Soul in the State of Beatitude know God in the Body or Outside the Body?

Augustine's Answer in Book XII of De Genesi ad litteram.

Abstract

This article highlights the relevance of Augustine's exegesis of 2 Cor. 12, 2-4 in book XII of De Genesi ad litteram, for the development of his theory on the participation of the body in the beatific vision. Our analysis is developed in three moments : the state of Augustine's theory on the participation of the body in the vision of God at the beginning of the year 413 (Sermo 277); the absence of a biblical text on the topic as an obstacle to affirm the participation of the body in the beatific vision; the overcoming of this obstacle through the exegesis of Paul's narration of his ecstasy (2 Cor. 12, 2-4) and the deduction of the necessity for the human body to participate in the vision of God in patria.

Keywords : Augustine ; De Genesi ad litteram livre XII ; ecstasy of saint Paul ; vision of God ; spiritual body.

Ancient and medieval authors studied : Augustine ; Porphyr.