Two exegeses of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) by blessed Augustine as an example of the author’s different theological emphases

This article examines two interpretations of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) by Blessed Augustine. The first exegesis was presented in the treatise “On the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount” in 394 AD, while the second was found in Sermon 53, dated between 413 and 416 AD. In the first interpretation, Blessed Augustine emphasizes the virtue of humility, while in the sermon, he devotes a significant portion of his discourse to the theme of God’s grace. By comparing these two texts, it is possible to address the issue of the progression of the theologian’s exegetical language, which was influenced by contextual factors. During the early period of his ministry, Blessed Augustine followed an exegetical tradition by creating a moral treatise to instruct missionaries in Hippo. After 412 AD, the author immersed himself in anti-Pelagian controversies, introducing new arguments in polemics against followers of the doctrine of human moral autonomy.