Books
St Augustine

City of God

Saint Augustine of Hippo is one of the central figures in the history of Christianity, and this book is one of his greatest theological works. Written as an eloquent defense of the faith at a time when the Roman Empire was on the brink of collapse, it examines the ancient pagan religions of Rome, the arguments of the Greek philosophers, and the revelations of the Bible. Pointing the way forward to a citizenship that transcends worldly politics and will last for eternity, this book is one of the most influential documents in the development of Christianity. One of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian thought, The City of God is vital to an understanding of modern Western society and how it came into being. Begun in A.D. 413, the books initial purpose was to refute the charge that Christianity was to blame for the fall of Rome (which had occurred just three years earlier). Indeed, Augustine produced a wealth of evidence to prove that paganism bore within itself the seeds of its own destruction. However, over the next thirteen years that it took to complete the work, the brilliant ecclesiastic proceeded to his larger theme: a cosmic interpretation of history in terms of the struggle between good and evil. By means of his contrast of the earthly and heavenly cities-— the one pagan, self-centered, and contemptuous of God and the other devout, God-centered, and in search of grace-— Augustine explored and interpreted human history in relation to eternity.
1,610 printed pages
Copyright owner
Bookwire
Original publication
2012
Publication year
2012
Have you already read it? How did you like it?
👍👎

Quotes

  • b9231487346has quotedlast year
    their

    own gods to the Founder of this city,—a city surpassingly glorious,

    whether we view it as it still lives by faith in this fleeting course

    of time, and sojourns as a stranger in the midst of the ungodly, or as

    it shall dwell in the fixed stability of its eternal seat, which it now

    with patience waits for, expecting until “righteousness shall return

    unto judgment,” and it obtain, by virtue of its excellence, final

    victory and perfect peace. A great work this, and an arduous; but God

    is my helper. For I am aware what ability is requisite to persuade the

    proud how great is the virtue of humility, which raises us, not by a

    quite human arrogance, but by a divine grace, above all earthly
  • b9231487346has quotedlast year
    Argument—Augustin censures the pagans, who attributed the calamities

    of the world, and especially the recent sack of Rome by the Goths, to

    the Christian religion, and its prohibition of the worship of the

    gods. He speaks of the blessings and ills of life, which then, as

    always, happened to good and bad men alike. Finally, he rebukes the

    shamelessness of those who cast up to the Christians that their women

    had been violated by the soldiers.

    Preface, Explaining His Design in Undertaking This Work.

    The glorious city of God is my theme in this work, which you, my

    dearest son Marcellinus, suggested, and which is due to you by my

    promise. I have undertaken its defence against those who prefer
fb2epub
Drag & drop your files (not more than 5 at once)