Christologie in der antimanichäischen Polemik Augustins. Eine Frage der Abgrenzung

Abstract

Which role does Christology play in Augustine’s controversy with the Manichaeans and in his anti-Manichaean polemics in general? Here, all the Christological statements of the Western Manichaeism of which we can be sure that Augustine was faced with are treated; these are compared with Augustine’s different engagements with these theologies. The different aspects of the Manichaean Christology, namely 1.) Christ as a historic figure, 2.) Christ suffering in the world, 3.) Christ as a character of light and finally 4.) Christ as revealer and savior, together with the specific way in which Augustine displays Manichaean Christology are analyzed. Here it is argued that Augustine finds points of genuine conflict with Manichaen Christology; this engagement gives him the opportunity to demarcate his own Christology. This phenomenon is seen especially in the case of his view of Docetism. Against the Manichaean metaphorical utilization of the biblical passion narratives and conception of Christ as a figure of light, Augustine does not have a comparable supply of traditional arguments at his disposal. Finally, the fact that the Manichaeans describe Christ as revealer and redeemer eminently challenges Augustine, because he cannot deny Christ’s soteriological function in itself.