When reading the Plato earlier in the semester I was constantly struck by proto-Christian themes and tones that pervaded to the text. Socrates, at times, we almost like a proto-Christ figure, and after I read Augustine I have a better understanding why I related to the teachings of Socrates so strongly. Augustine seems to be very heavily influenced by the neo-Platonists, and this leads me to believe that their teachings were very influential on the early church, and are passed down in the traditions of the early church. There seems to be a heavily reliance on the ability to the ability to speak forcefully, expressively, persuasively, but also with wisdom, grace, and restraint.
Augustine argues that “the speaker who is awash with the kind of eloquence that is not wise is particularly dangerous because audiences enjoy listening to such a person on matters of no value to them, and reckon that somebody who is heard to speak eloquently must also be speaking the truth” (104). This echoes earlier arguments we have seen that state, “they declared wisdom without eloquence was of little value to society but that eloquence without wisdom was generally speaking a great nuisance, and never beneficial” (104).
Augustine is arguing that the Christian speaker/rhetor has to be eloquent and wise because preaching/orating takes on much more moral gravity. As a Christian, Augustine believes in the eternal salvation of God, and it is a preacher’s duty to deliver his flock to salvation. Rhetoric in this situation takes on a much deeper spiritual meaning, because rhetoric is no longer confined to this life. Rhetoric no has the power to bestow immortality in a sense. It can deliver you to heaven, or cast you into hell. As Augustine states, “Eloquent speakers give pleasure, wise one’s salvation” (105). Rhetoric is no longer confined to the affairs of the material world, and has a transcendent value and meaning, because Augustine believes it to be the most effective way of deliverance from sin or the consequences of sin through Jesus Christ.
He has previously acknowledged the power of rhetoric stating, “Since rhetoric is used to give conviction to both truth and falsehood, who could dare maintain that truth, which depends on us for its defense, should stand unarmed in the fight against falsehood” (101). Augustine knows that powerful rhetors can use rhetoric to lead people toward falsehood (i.e. competing religious ideologies that he found schismatic) so it was the preacher’s duty to fight fire with fire, so to speak. He argues that his opponents are going to use rhetoric, and they are going to be good at it, and the church cannot simply sit back and hope that people see the truth. Augustine believes that Christians have to be wise and eloquent through the study of rhetorical principles.