Authors: Saint Augustine, Bernard Mayes, Marcus Dods
ISBN-13: 9781433254246, ISBN-10: 1433254247
Format: Compact Disc
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Date Published: September 2008
Edition: (Non-applicable)
AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (AD 354– 430) is among the most influential cultural figures of all time. His development of Christian theology during the formative fourth and fifth centuries shaped church teaching for future generations.
Ascending to influence as a teacher of rhetoric in Hippo, Rome, and Milan, Augustine initially embraced Manichean religion, and later came under the influence of Neoplatonism. In AD 387 however, his life dramatically changed directions with his conversion to Christianity. After conversion, he returned to his native North Africa, where he was ordained a priest and later made a bishop. As leader of the Church in Hippo, he preached widely and wrote voluminous biblical commentaries and apologetic works defending Christian faith against its rivals and detractors, along with more personal and pastoral works, such as Confessions.
One of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian philosophy, The City of God provides an insightful interpretation of the development of modern Western society and the origin of most Western thought. Contrasting earthly and heavenly citiesrepresenting the omnipresent struggle between good and evilAugustine explores human history in its relation to all eternity. In Thomas Merton's words, "The City of God is the autobiography of the Church written by the most Catholic of her great saints."
This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition is a complete and unabridged version of the Marcus Dods translation.
Introduction | 7 | |
Foreword | 13 | |
I. | The Problem of a Universal Society | 13 |
II. | The City of God and Universal Society | 21 |
III. | Christian Wisdom and a World Society | 33 |
Part 1 | The Pagan Gods and Earthly Happiness | |
Book I. | Christianity Did Not Cause the Fall of Rome | 39 |
Book II. | Pagan Gods Never Protected Men's Souls | 66 |
Book III. | Physical Evils Were Not Prevented by the Gods | 78 |
Book IV. | Divine Justice and the Growth of the Roman Empire | 84 |
Book V. | Providence and the Greatness of Rome | 99 |
Part 2 | The Pagan Gods and Future Happiness | |
Book VI. | Eternal Life and the Inadequacy of Polytheism | 119 |
Book VII. | Criticisms of Pagan Natural Theology | 135 |
Book VIII. | Classical Philosophy and Refined Paganism | 144 |
Book IX. | Pagan Deities, Demons, and Christian Angels | 172 |
Book X. | Christian Worship Contrasted with Platonic Theology | 186 |
Part 3 | The Origin of the Two Cities | |
Book XI. | Creation and the Two Societies of Angels | 205 |
Book XII. | Created Wills and the Distinction of Good and Evil | 244 |
Book XIII. | Adam's Sin and Its Consequences | 269 |
Book XIV. | Two Loves Originate Two Different Cities | 295 |
Part 4 | The Development of the Two Cities | |
Book XV. | The Two Cities in Early Biblical History | 323 |
Book XVI. | The City of God from the Flood to King David | 363 |
Book XVII. | From the Age of the Prophets to Christ's Birth | 378 |
Book XVIII. | The City of Man in Ancient History | 391 |
Part 5 | The Ends of the Two Cities | |
Book XIX. | Philosophy and Christianity on Man's End | 427 |
Book XX. | Separation of the Two Cities in the Last Judgment | 483 |
Book XXI. | End and Punishment of the Earthly City | 494 |
Book XXII. | The Eternal Bliss of the City of God | 507 |
Index | 546 |