Augustine of Hippo

1. Augustine of Hippo

2. Born November 13, 354 A.D., in North Africa (d. 430) • Father: Patricius (pagan) • Mother: Monica (Christian) • Well-educated; eventually became a teacher. • Initially in northern Africa • Later in Carthage, Rome, Milan Augustine of Hippo

3. As a young man, rejected the Christianity of his mother • Led an immoral lifestyle • Became involved with Manichaeism • In Milan, he came under the teaching of Ambrose (Bishop of Milan) • Converted to Christianity in garden in Milan • Tollo Lege! Romans 13:13-14 Augustine of Hippo

4. Christianity would quickly change his life • Baptized by Ambrose the next year (33) • By age 36, became a priest • After another 5 years, ordained bishop of Hippo (north Africa), where he would serve 40 years • Generally considered the greatest theologian of the early Christian church and one of the most influential Christian thinkers in history. Augustine of Hippo

5. Augustine's influence can be seen in two major controversies he faced in his lifetime. • Donatist Controversy • Pelagian Controversy Augustine of Hippo

6. The Donatist Controversy concerned the nature of the church (ecclesiology) • The Donatists desired a “pure” church • They opposed priests (traditores) who had betrayed the church during persecutions • An unworthy priest could not administer the sacraments • The Donatists considered themselves to be the “true church” Augustine of Hippo

7. Augustine's response to the Donatists • The validity of a sacrament does not depend on the virtue of the priest who administers it • The church is a mixture of the pure and the impure → true believers and false believers • Augustine's ideas would later lead to a “magical” view of the sacraments, however. Augustine of Hippo

8. The Pelagian Controversy concerned the issue of salvation (soteriology) • Pelagius was a British monk who denied original sin • He believed that mankind was basically good and Adam was only a bad example. • He taught it was possible for humans not to sin; in fact, some people had never sinned • He opposed Augustine and accused him of teaching immorality (divine grace) Augustine of Hippo

9. Augustine's Response to Pelagius • Augustine emphasized the necessity of God's grace. (John 15:5) • Because of Adam, mankind lost its freedom and now in bondage to sin. • It is not man's will or moral ability that saves him, but God's grace. • God's grace must first liberate us from our bondage to sin. Augustine of Hippo

10. Basic Elements of Augustine's Teaching: • We are responsible for our own sins. • We are not puppets but have real freedom (contra the Manichees) • This freedom, however, is compromised by sin; we are unable to break free of it. • Result: Pelagius was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Carthage in 418. Augustine of Hippo

11. The Influence of Augustine • His thought dominated the early Middle Ages • His writings were used by the humanists during the Renaissance • His theology impacted Martin Luther and John Calvin during the Reformation • Two most famous written works → Confessions, The City of God • Result: Pelagius was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Carthage in 418. Augustine of Hippo