Includes bibliographical references (pages 327-351) and indexes.

"Augustine of Hippo (354-430) strongly influenced western theology, but he has often been accused of over-emphasizing the unity of God to the detriment of the Trinity. In Augustine and the Trinity, Lewis Ayres offers a new treatment of this important figure, demonstrating how Augustine's writings offer one of the most sophisticated early theologies of the Trinity developed after the Council of Nicaea (325). Building on recent research, Ayres argues that Augustine was influenced by a wide variety of earlier Latin Christian traditions which stressed the irreducibility of Father, Son and Spirit. Augustine combines these traditions with material from non-Christian Neoplatonists in a very personal synthesis. Ayres also argues that Augustine shaped a powerful account of Christian ascent toward understanding of, as well as participation in the divine life, one that begins in faith and models itself on Christ's humility"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Part I. Origins -- Giving wings to Nicaea -- On being and not being a 'Platonist' -- Olivier Du Roy's thesis -- A bridge too far : Du Roy's method -- The tripotent Father, Son and Spirit -- De beata vita -- Augustine's engagements -- From Him, through Him and in Him -- Latin pro-Nicene theology -- An anti-Manichaean Trinitarianism I : de moribus ecclesiae catholicae -- An anti-Manichaean Trinitarianism II : epistula II -- Faith of our fathers : de fide et symbolo -- Augustine and Latin anti-Monarchianism -- Persona, natura, substantia -- 'Most fittingly called his word' -- Spiritus, deitas, communio -- Taking stock -- Part II. Ascent -- The unadorned Trinity -- Trinitas quae deus est -- The unadorned Trinity -- Towards understanding -- Excursus I : the dating of the de trinitate -- Per corporalia ... ad incorporalia -- Ascent and the liberal arts -- Changing attitudes to the artes -- Analogy in the confessiones -- A Christological epistemology -- Augustine finds his panzer -- Faith and contemplation -- Faith, desire and Christ -- Interlude : Augustine's panzer and the Latin tradition -- Correspondence and mystery : the example of Moses -- Faith and grace -- Excursus 2 : polemical targets in the de trinitate -- Part III. Into the mystery -- Recommending the source -- A second rule -- The meaning of sending -- Revealing and saving -- Augustine's novelty? -- Creator, creation and the angels -- 'You have made all things in Wisdom' (Ps. 103.24) -- Essence from essence -- The self-same, the identical -- The simplicity of God -- Predicating relation (Trin. 5. 3.48.9) -- Person and nature (Trin. 5. 8.99.10 and 7. 4.76.11) -- Wisdom from wisdom (Trin. 6. 1.17. 2.3) -- Appropriation (Trin. 7. 3.4) -- Showing and seeing -- Subsistentia personarum ('the existence of the persons') -- Father and Son : showing and seeing -- Loving and being -- The Spirit as agent of unity -- Acts 4.32 -- The Spirit and the life of the divine three -- And 'from' the Son? -- Subsisting relations? -- Part IV. Memory, intellect and will -- 'But it's not fur eatin' ... ' -- Introduction -- De civitate dei II -- De trinitate 8 : the exordium -- De trinitate 9. 1.15.8 : the paradox of self-knowing -- De trinitate 9. 6.912.18 : verbum interior -- Conclusion : the ghost at the banquet? -- ' ... It's just fur lookin' through' -- Setting up de trinitate 10 : se nosse -- se cogitare -- De trinitate 10. 10.1312.19 : memoria, intellegentia and voluntas -- Reprise : de trinitate 14 -- A Ciceronian triad -- Conclusion -- Epilogue. Catching all three.

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