Augustine's anthropology and consequent epistemology lie in the background of his hermeneutical theory. Augustine thought that true wisdom lay in knowledge of eternal truths. Through the presence of Christ enlightening every human being coming into the world (Jn.1:9), these eternal truths are present. A consequence of Adam's fall was the darkening of the human intellect. Further, in Greek philosophy in general matter hinders human knowledge. Man's mind is in need of an exercitatio animae. For these two reasons man cannot see the truth directly. Christ could only impart wisdom to man through sign and symbol. It is the role of the exegete to understand these signs and symbols and then impart them to the human race.