Written between 413 and 426 AD, City of God by St. Augustine of Hippo is a monumental theological and philosophical work defending Christianity against pagan critics and outlining the history and destiny of two cities: the City of God and the City of Man.
City of God contrasts two societies: the City of God, rooted in love of God and eternal truth, and the City of Man, driven by self-love and temporal power. Augustine wrote it to refute claims that Christianity caused Rome’s fall in 410 AD, arguing instead that human sin, not divine will, leads to earthly ruin.
After the Visigoths sacked Rome, pagans blamed Christianity’s rise for weakening the empire. Augustine responded with City of God to defend the faith, asserting that Rome fell due to moral decay and that true security lies in the eternal City of God, not earthly kingdoms.
Augustine composed City of God over 13 years, from 413 to 426 AD, during his tenure as Bishop of Hippo. This period followed the traumatic fall of Rome, shaping his reflections on history and divine providence.
The work spans 22 books. Books 1-10 refute pagan arguments against Christianity, while Books 11-22 trace the origin, progress, and destiny of the two cities, drawing from Scripture and philosophy to contrast their natures and ends.
The City of God comprises those who love God above all, destined for eternal peace, while the City of Man consists of those who prioritize self-love, bound to temporal strife and ultimate ruin. Augustine sees them as intertwined in history but separated in eternity.
Augustine presents history as a linear struggle between the two cities, guided by divine providence. Unlike cyclical pagan views, he sees time moving toward a final judgment, where the City of God triumphs and the City of Man faces destruction.
Rome exemplifies the City of Man—glorious yet flawed, its fall in 410 AD proving earthly empires’ fragility. Augustine contrasts its reliance on pagan gods and human pride with the enduring strength of the City of God, rooted in faith.
In Books 1-10, he mocks pagan deities as powerless and immoral, incapable of protecting Rome or offering salvation. He argues that only the one true God governs history and human destiny.
Augustine sees evil as a corruption of good, not a separate force. He attributes the City of Man’s woes to human sin—pride, greed, and lust—while asserting that God uses even evil to fulfill His ultimate plan for the City of God.
Augustine uses Genesis and Revelation to frame the two cities’ origins and ends, blending literal and allegorical readings. Scripture provides the foundation for his theology, revealing God’s plan from creation to final judgment.
Grace is essential for entry into the City of God, as human effort alone cannot overcome sin. Augustine emphasizes that God’s unmerited favor calls and sustains the faithful, distinguishing them from the self-reliant City of Man.
True peace exists only in the City of God, where harmony with God reigns. The City of Man’s peace is fleeting, marred by conflict and ambition, while eternal peace awaits the faithful in heaven.
The City of God will ascend to eternal glory after the Last Judgment, while the City of Man faces damnation. Augustine envisions a cosmic resolution where God’s justice and mercy prevail.
Augustine argues that Roman virtues like courage and honor, while admirable, were tainted by pride and served the City of Man’s glory, not God’s. True virtue, he insists, stems from faith and humility.
Augustine draws on Platonist ideas, like the eternal versus the temporal, to frame the two cities. However, he adapts them to Christian theology, prioritizing revelation over reason alone.
Augustine affirms free will but stresses its corruption by sin, requiring divine grace to align with the City of God. The City of Man reflects misused freedom, chasing fleeting desires.
Book 22 concludes with a vivid depiction of the afterlife—eternal joy for the City of God and torment for the City of Man—culminating Augustine’s vision of history’s end and God’s triumph.
Rulers in the City of Man wield power for self-interest, often unjustly, while just rulers in the City of God serve God and the common good, though such are rare in history.
City of God offers timeless insights into faith, power, and human destiny, resonating in debates about religion and society. Its analysis of pride versus humility and temporal versus eternal values speaks to modern struggles, making it a foundational text in theology and political philosophy.
City of God shaped Christian thought by framing history as a divine narrative, influencing medieval thinkers like Aquinas and modern theology. Its defense of faith against secular critique and its vision of a transcendent kingdom inspired the Church’s role in Western civilization.