Augustine Rahner and Trinitarian Exegesis

Through close and sustained analysis of Augustine's exegesis of Scripture Robinson argues that Augustine's Trinitarian exegesis offers significant-though not inexhaustible-support for Rahner's Trinitarian project and particularly his <i>Grundaxiom</i>. Firstly he posits that Augustine provides weighty biblically rich support for Rahner's Trinitarian agenda at exactly those points where Rahner is explicitly critical of Augustine and the Augustinian-Western tradition overcoming various weaknesses detected in the later tradition and pre-empting many of Rahner's later solutions. Secondly and consequently Robinson suggests that Augustine offers a scriptural reading strategy that addresses the major exegetical difficulties perceived to emerge from Rahner's Rule. Thus in Augustine's exegesis of Scripture the Augustinian-Western tradition has always had the resources at its disposal to avoid or address the most poignant criticisms <i>levelled</i> both by and at Rahner.