City of God, Part II
by Augustine of Hippo | Book Summary
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Author: Augustine of Hippo
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The City of God and the Earthly City, while on earth, are intermingled. There are even members of the Earthly City operating within the church. There are those who live for the spirit on earth, and those who live for the flesh. From the perspective of God and of eternity, though, the identities and destiny of these two cities are startlingly different. Ultimately, those of the Earthly City, people who pursue false gods and self-love during their lives, will spend eternity forsaken by God in a state of anguished punishment. Conversely, those of the City of God, people who pursue truth and love during their lives, will spend eternity in the blessed peace of God. |
Augustine was a theologian and Bishop of Hippo, a city in Northern Africa, in the 4th and 5th centuries. He is considered to be one of the 'Church Fathers', a handful of influential theologians who laid the foundations for Christian thought in the first centuries following the death of Christ. Some of his major works include City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and Confessions.
Augustine's impact on Western Christian thought cannot be overstated; in fact, it could be said that Christianity, as it is understood by the Western world, is almost entirely shaped by Augustine's systematic summary of the Christian vision. The Western understanding of Christianity, and especially the thought of the Apostle Paul, is inextricably bound to Augustine's exegesis of the New Testament and his understanding of salvation, grace, eschatology, and ethics — not to mention countless other theological subdisciplines — continues to have a dominant and lasting influence on the Christian world.
City of God, Part II
by Augustine of Hippo
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Augustine of Hippo |
| Publisher | Penguin Classics |
| Date | Early 5th Century |
| Pages | 1091 |
Overview:
In the second part of City of God, Augustine moves away from historical analysis and cultural criticism and instead focuses on the two cities — the City of God and the Earthly City — their definitions, their development, their present state, and their ultimate ends.
The City of God and the Earthly City, while on earth, are intermingled. There are even members of the Earthly City operating within the church. There are those who live for the spirit on earth, and those who live for the flesh.
From the perspective of God and of eternity, though, the identities and destiny of these two cities are startlingly different. Ultimately, those of the Earthly City, people who pursue false gods and self-love during their lives, will spend eternity forsaken by God in a state of anguished punishment. Conversely, those of the City of God, people who pursue truth and love during their lives, will spend eternity in the blessed peace of God.
Augustine was a theologian and Bishop of Hippo, a city in Northern Africa, in the 4th and 5th centuries. He is considered to be one of the 'Church Fathers', a handful of influential theologians who laid the foundations for Christian thought in the first centuries following the death of Christ. Some of his major works include City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and Confessions.
Augustine's impact on Western Christian thought cannot be overstated; in fact, it could be said that Christianity, as it is understood by the Western world, is almost entirely shaped by Augustine's systematic summary of the Christian vision. The Western understanding of Christianity, and especially the thought of the Apostle Paul, is inextricably bound to Augustine's exegesis of the New Testament and his understanding of salvation, grace, eschatology, and ethics — not to mention countless other theological subdisciplines — continues to have a dominant and lasting influence on the Christian world.