ONLINE FIRST
published on December 18, 2024
Christopher Howard

https://doi.org/10.5840/augstudies2024121793
Developing the Canonical Rule
Christ¡¯s Two Forms in Sts. Hilary and Augustine
Among both the defenders and adversaries of orthodox Trinitarian dogma, the so-called ¡°kenosis hymn¡± of Philippians 2 was of the utmost importance, whether in refuting opponents¡¯ teachings or articulating one¡¯s own. While historical theologians have extensively investigated its place in the works of Sts. Hilary and Augustine¡ªeach the leading Latin pro-Nicene authority of his time¡ªa comparative examination of the two has not yet been undertaken. This article seeks to trace and account for Augustine¡¯s noteworthy improvement upon his predecessor¡¯s thought in the closely related realms of exegesis and Christology. It first summarizes the most relevant points of continuity and discontinuity in the Latin bishops¡¯ uses of the Pauline language of forma dei¨Cforma serui. From there, it turns to the role of Phil. 2 in countering subordinationist readings of hotly contested scriptural texts, arguing that Augustine more ably responds to the challenges at hand. Finally, it argues that his employment of the forma dei¨Cforma serui paradigm is closely linked to his teaching on the revelatory capacity of Christ¡¯s human nature. With regard to both, Augustine¡¯s teaching marks a bona fide development of Hilary¡¯s and thus of the Latin tradition more broadly.