On Christian Doctrine: How to Interpret and Teach the Scriptures (unabridged traduction)

De doctrina Christiana (English: On Christian Doctrine or On Christian Teaching) is a theological text written by Saint Augustine of Hippo. It consists of four books that describe how to interpret and teach the Scriptures. The first three of these books were published in 397 and the fourth added in 426. By writing this text Saint Augustine set three tasks for Christian teachers and preachers: to discover the truth in the contents of the Scriptures to teach the truth from the Scriptures and to defend scriptural truth when it was attacked. One of Saint Augustines most important contributions to Christian Theology On Christian Doctrine is essential reading for any serious believer interested in learning more about faith in God. The four books of St. Augustin On Christian Doctrine (De Doctrina Christiana iv libri) are a compend of exegetical theology to guide the reader in the understanding and interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures according to the analogy of faith. The first three books were written ad 397 the fourth was added 426. It is the first and best patristic work on biblical Hermeneutics and continued for a thousand years together with the Prefaces of Jerome to be the chief exegetical guide. Although it is superseded as a scientific work by modern Hermeneutics and Critical Introductions to the Old and New Testaments it is not surpassed for originality depth and spiritual insight.