The City of God, Volume 1
'The City of God, Volume 1' Summary
Rome having been stormed and sacked by the Goths under Alaric their king, the worshipers of false gods, or pagans, as we commonly call them, made an attempt to attribute this calamity to the Christian religion, and began to blaspheme the true God with even more than their wonted bitterness and acerbity. It was this which kindled my zeal for the house of God, and prompted me to undertake the defense of the city of God against the charges and misrepresentations of its assailants. This work was in my hands for several years, owing to the interruptions occasioned by many other affairs which had a prior claim on my attention, and which I could not defer.
However, this great undertaking was at last completed in twenty-two books. Of these, the first five refute those who fancy that the polytheistic worship is necessary in order to secure worldly prosperity, and that all these overwhelming calamities have befallen us in consequence of its prohibition. In the following five books I address myself to those who admit that such calamities have at all times attended, and will at all times attend, the human race, and that they constantly recur in forms more or less disastrous, varying only in the scenes, occasions, and persons on whom they light, but, while admitting this, maintain that the worship of the gods is advantageous for the life to come. In these ten books, then, I refute these two opinions, which are as groundless as they are antagonistic to the Christian religion.
But that no one might have occasion to say, that though I had refuted the tenets of other men, I had omitted to establish my own, I devote to this object the second part of this work, which comprises twelve books, although I have not scrupled, as occasion offered, either to advance my own opinions in the first ten books, or to demolish the arguments of my opponents in the last twelve. Of these twelve books, the first four contain an account of the origin of these two cities—the city of God, and the city of the world. The second four treat of their history or progress; the third and last four, of their deserved destinies. And so, though all these twenty-two books refer to both cities, yet I have named them after the better city, and called them The City of God.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
LatinPublished In
426 CEGenre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Author
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Algeria, Rome
Augustine of Hippo also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian, philosopher, and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings influenced the development of Western philo...
More on Saint Augustine of HippoDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Books 1-4 (Allen Translation) by John Calvin
The book is structured as a systematic exploration of Christian doctrine, covering topics such as the nature of God, the role of the Bible in Christia...
Homiletics: Classification of Divisions by William Paxton
This book serves as a valuable resource for individuals interested in the art of preaching and delivering effective sermons. Written by William Paxto...
Lamentation of a Sinner by Catherine Parr
This book was written during a time of great religious and political upheaval in England, as the country was transitioning from Catholicism to Protest...
Messiah: Fifty Expository Discourses on the Oratorio of Handel by John Newton
This is a remarkable book that delves deep into the intricacies and profound themes of Handel's renowned oratorio, Messiah. Written by the esteemed au...
The Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2 Moses Maimonides by Moses Maimonides
Embark on a journey of intellectual exploration and philosophical contemplation in "The Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2" by Moses Maimonides. As the i...
Good Sense by Paul Henri Thiry (Baron d'Holbach)
"Good Sense" is a thought-provoking and insightful book written by Paul Eldridge. Published in the early 20th century, this classic work explores the...
On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church by Martin Luther
Prelude on the Babylonian Captivity of the Church was the second of the three major treatises published by Martin Luther in 1520, coming after the Add...
The Lord's Table by Andrew Murray
The Lord's Table, is not meant to replace scripture, but rather to strengthen believers' appreciation of God's word. Murray's meditations provide a th...
The City of God, Volume 2 by Saint Augustine of Hippo
On the city of God against the pagans, often called The City of God, is a book of Christian philosophy written in Latin by Augustine of Hippo in the e...
Mystic Treatises (Six Treatises on the Behavior of Excellence) by Isaac of Nineveh
Isaac of Nineveh was born in Eastern Arabia, a mixed Syriac and Arabic speaking region in Mesopotamia. When he was young he entered a monastery where...
Reviews for The City of God, Volume 1
No reviews posted or approved, yet...