Ocena „Liber regularum” Tykoniusza przez św. Augustyna

Abstract

Ticonius was an African author who lived in the second half of the fourth century. He wrote a handbook on biblical hermeneutics, the oldest in the Western world, known as Liber Regularum. St Augustine refers to the text in his Doctrina Christiana (III, XXX–XXXVII), which includes an evaluation of Ticonius’ book. We should bear in mind that the Bishop of Hippo does not discuss the Rules by Ticonius in detail, nor does he provide an in-depth text analysis. What St. Augustine offers here is a general explanation and indication of Ticonius’ positive and negative approach to certain hermeneutical and theological issues. The assessment concerns three essential aspects: the overall applicability of Ticonius’ book and its practical use; its biblical elements; and its theological meaning. In general, St Augustine’s evaluation of Ticonius’ work is not entirely negative. The Bishop of Hippo frequently stresses the double meaning of the Holy Scriptures: corporeal (or literal) and spiritual. Although St Augustine does not admit it openly, Ticonius seems to have been of the same opinion, as demonstrated by his Rules, which were meant to be the key to proper interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. It must be noted however that both authors approached the issue in two different ways. St Augustine advocated the use of allegory, whereas Ticonius preferred to employ typology.