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The Foundational Role of Apostolicity in Augustine’s Understanding of Catholicity

于Journal of Chinese Theology
著者：
Jenny Yan Yang School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

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https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0083-5807
在线出版日期:
04 Jun 2026
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Abstract

This article examines the foundational role of apostolicity in Augustine’s understanding of catholicity. While early Christian discussions often highlighted the Church’s universality, Augustine consistently insisted that doctrinal completeness – another dimension of catholicity – is inseparable from continuity with the apostles. Through a study of his anti-Manichaean, anti-Donatist, and anti-Pelagian writings, this article demonstrates how Augustine grounded catholic doctrine in apostolic Scripture and, increasingly, in apostolic tradition as preserved in the universal Church and the apostolic sees. Augustine used apostolicity to expose the pseudo-catholic claims of heretical groups and to defend the Church’s authoritative teaching, creed, custom, and interpretation of Scripture. His integrative account suggests that true catholicity entails both geographical extension and fidelity to apostolic tradition. The article concludes by considering the implications of Augustine’s framework for contemporary Sino-Reformed ecclesiology, arguing that catholicity must be understood as inseparably linked to apostolicity, that is, to faithful continuity with the apostolic teaching and tradition in the early Church.

摘要

本文探讨使徒性在奥古斯丁对大公性理解中的基础性地位。尽管早期教 会对大公性的讨论多集中于其普世性，奥古斯丁却强调，大公性的另一 面——教义的完备性——唯有在与使徒教导保持延续时才能得以确立。通 过考察其反摩尼教、反多纳徒及反伯拉纠著作，本文展现出奥古斯丁如何 将大公教义奠基于使徒圣经，并日益重视由使徒教会所传承的使徒传统。 奥古斯丁借此揭露异端“伪大公性”的声称，并维护使徒教会在教义、信 经、习俗与释经上的权威。本文最后指出，此框架对当代华人改革宗教会 的教会论具有重要启示：真正的大公性必须与使徒性不可分割，即，与初 代教会的使徒教导和传统忠信地传承紧密相连。
题名:
The Foundational Role of Apostolicity in Augustine’s Understanding of Catholicity
文章类别:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/27726606-bja00017
Language:
英语
Page Range:
1–24
Keywords:
Augustine; catholicity; apostolicity; apostolic tradition; scripture; heresy;
原题名:
Journal of Chinese Theology
卷/期:
提前发表的文章
Received:
08 Dec 2025
Accepted:
16 Apr 2026
出版社:
Brill
国际标准刊号（电子版）:
2772-6606
主题:
World Christianity, Theology and World Christianity, Religion in Asia, Religious Studies, Religion, Asian Studies, China

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