One of the most influential Christian theologians of all time, St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) wrote much on the subject of Christianity. His work profoundly shaped the development of Western Christianity and philosophy over the centuries till today. It has often been said that Augustine’s thoughts on Christianity still reverberate in the work of many scholars, theologians, and philosophers today.
Augustine’s Christian thought were the product of his personal spiritual journey, his own doubts and struggles, as well as deep reflection on scripture. His teachings on the meaning of Christian life can be found in his writings such as the Confessions and the City of God.
Within his works, Augustine presented his own understanding of the Christian faith, focusing around the themes of grace, faith, and love. He believed that humans, having inherited a sinful nature, were all in need of divine grace to enable them, in cooperation with their own efforts, to do good and fulfill their calling in life. He famously said “Work, then, in humility and confidence. For our heart must be prepared for God, that He may dwell in it.” He also believed in the power of faith in Christ to forgive sin, saying “You should believe in the remission of sins through Christ and be baptized for the forgiveness of your own sins” and that ultimately, love for God and others should be at the heart of the Christian life saying “Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself”.
To Augustine, the Incarnation, or God becoming man in Jesus Christ, was a central and undeniable truth of Christianity. He also believed in the ideological unity of the church and the need for its perfect and harmonious public order as well as its meaningful representation and understanding of the faith. After all, it was the Christian Church that provided the Church Fathers and great teachers of the faith like Augustine himself.
Ultimately, Augustine’s belief in Christianity is one of a faith that offers salvation, understanding and guidance in a world of turmoil. It is a call to humility and selflessness, to love and service. His theological writings still bear down on us today, particularly in the words of Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck who famously wrote: “Augustine is one of the few who always pushed the boundaries of Christian thought, who constantly looked for the best in Christian devotion, and whose works can still today provide deep theological insights.”
Augustine’s View on The Trinity
Augustine’s view of the Trinity was a major contribution to the development of Western Christianity. He held to the doctrine of the Trinity, that there is one God, who is revealed to us in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Augustine argued that the unity of the Trinity should lead us to model our lives around unity, love, and understanding.
In his writings, Augustine also teaches that each member of the Trinity has its own roles, yet they are all united in common purpose. He also assigned each a unique place in time, the Father is eternal, the Son existing only in time, and the Spirit existing in both time and eternity. Augustine explains that though thoughts of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are distinct, their nature is inseparable and united.
For Augustine, the Trinity is not only a logical truth, but one that expresses the fullness of the Christian faith. Through God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, Augustine fully embraced Trinitarian faith in his writings.
Implications for the Church
Augustine’s view of Christianity had major implications for the Church, especially his view of the unity of the church and its role in providing guidance and leadership to its members. Augustine argued for the importance of Catholic unity and believed that the best way to ensure this unity was by upholding the authority of the Church’s teachings. He argued that the Church was instituted by God to preserve the true faith and provide necessary discipline in the Church. In a time when the Church was divided, Augustine’s words on the importance of unity and the Church’s teachings were a call to order.
Augustine believed that the Church was a necessary source of guidance and discipline and was eager to maintain its position in the world. He argued that the Church had the responsibility to protect its members from heresy and maintain the truth of the faith. He went so far as to suggest that heretics should be excommunicated and, if necessary, the death penalty should be imposed. Many of his ideas, while controversial, remain relevant in many areas of the modern Church.
Augustine’s ideas of the Church’s function, unity, and leadership have been a major influence in the development of the modern Church. His view of the importance of unity and submission to the Church’s teachings have been echoed in the Church today, especially in the Catholic Church.
Augustine’s Laws
Another important part of Augustine’s view of Christianity is his views on civic and moral law. Augustine believed in the role of law in the Christian life and held to a kind of natural law philosophy, that all humans were subject to certain laws and norms by nature, not just by their faith or culture. He believed that positive, or just laws were necessary for the orderly government of a society and that human laws should reflect the will of God. He also argued that laws should be enacted in keeping with justice, that is, for the good of the citizens. He wrote, “The just man is one who wishes to discard private interests in favor of the public good.” He held to the view that punishment is necessary to maintain the laws, both civil and divine.
Augustine’s views on the role of law has had a profound influence in the formation of many modern laws, particularly the laws of Europe and the US. His view of natural law as the basis of human morality has shaped our understanding of justice and human rights and has been echoed throughout the centuries in the work of many philosophers and theologians.
Augustine’s View of Free Will
Augustine’s view of free will was an important part of his Christian thought. Augustine argued for a degree of free will in humans, that humans had some ability to choose what was right and what was wrong. He argued that the soul could be used to discern the will of God and cultivate virtue,but he also maintained that the ultimate end goal of the Christian life was union with God and so any human activity should ultimately contribute to that goal. As he famously wrote, ““Incline your hearts to the Lord and serve him alone, and he will turn away from you the slavery of sin.”
Augustine thus argued that humans must use their free will to choose rightly, but he believed that ultimately it was grace that enabled humans to do good and make right choices. For Augustine, grace supplied humans with the power to choose rightly, while the will supplied the freedom to make the choice. He famously wrote “Do not despair under the burden of your sins, but by the grace of God, hope to be freed from them.”
Augustine’s view of free will has been influential throughout history, particularly in terms of our understanding of human nature and morality. His views remain relevant today, as Christians wrestle with the idea of free-will.
Augustine View of Human Nature
Augustine’s view of human nature was heavily informed by his belief in the sinful nature of humans. Augustine argued that humans were corrupt by nature, and could not be trusted to behave in a righteous manner on their own. He believed that humans were born in sin and that it was only through God’s grace that they could be freed from their sinful nature. Augustine’s views on human nature had a profound impact on the development of Western Christianity, particularly his view of the depravity of man and the need for grace.
Augustine argued that while humans could not save themselves, they could still strive to fulfil the purpose of their lives, which he believed was ultimately to glorify God and be reunited with him. Through his writings and teachings, Augustine encouraged Christians to seek holiness and perfection and to strive to live lives more worthy of God. He argued that humans could only achieve this goal of holiness through the help of God, and not by their own efforts.
Augustine’s view of human nature has been influential throughout history, and his view of the importance of grace and virtue in the life of a Christian is still held by many today. It is a reminder that the Christian life is one based on grace, humility, and submission to God’s call.
