38 pages • 1 hour read
Augustine of HippoOn Christian Doctrine
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Book 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Book 1 Summary
Augustine opens Book 1 by invoking God’s aid in the interpretation of scripture, and in the writing of On Christian Doctrine. He tells readers that scripture is full of signs and messages both literal and figurative; correct interpretation depends upon knowing the proper meaning of a passage and revealing that meaning to others. Augustine notes that there are differences between the temporal world and the spiritual world, likening the believer’s life on the earth to a journey that an exile undertakes far from his native land. As an exile, the believer is to keep in mind his true destination (heaven), and to learn how to cherish things that are spiritual and eternal over the things which are temporary and worthless in comparison.
Augustine celebrates the power of words by discussing how speech passes away as soon as it is spoken, but the written word endures, and scripture is God’s word in physical form. He contrasts the sinfulness of man with the goodness of Jesus and offers a series of contrasts between sin and redemption, vice and virtue. He also stresses the importance of repentance for all believers, as a Christian who does not believe his sins can be pardoned is at risk of losing his faith entirely.
Augustine writes about the central importance of love in Christian doctrine. He claims that the ultimate commandment in scripture is twofold: to love one’s neighbor as oneself and to love God with one’s whole heart and soul as the supreme good and ultimate authority. Augustine says that loving according to the commandment is man’s way of honoring God and forging strong bonds with others, instead of serving selfish ends.
Augustine also writes about the nature of the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and how all three elements work in harmony as one supreme godhead. Augustine concludes Book 1 with a reflection upon the short-lived joy of temporal things compared to the sustainable joy offered by the spiritual, and says that the three graces of faith, hope, and love are the most important in a Christian’s life.
Book 1 Analysis
Book 1 offers the reader a convenient introduction to some of Augustine’s key themes and beliefs in On Christian Doctrine as a whole.
First, there is the emphasis on the importance of love as central to Christian faith, a theme which will reappear repeatedly throughout the work. As Augustine explains it, “[T]here are four kinds of things that are to be loved—first, that which is above us; second, ourselves; third, that which is on a level with us; fourth, that which is beneath us” (64). These four categories cover every conceivable form of relationship, which makes love all-encompassing for the Christian believer. But, as Augustine writes, the most important form of love is the love of one’s neighbor and the love of God. Augustine repeatedly emphasizes that when a believer loves his neighbor, it is a form of spiritual love that reflects his love for God: “[W]hen you have joy of a man in God, it is God rather than man that you enjoy” (84).
Second, there is a strong emphasis on the value of the spiritual over the temporal. In order to become a strong Christian believer, a man (or woman) must learn to put aside his love for earthly things and commit himself to his spiritual welfare above all else. Augustine uses the metaphor of an exile to explain the situation of a Christian believer on earth. A Christian’s native land is “our Father’s home” (38)—that is to say, heaven—and in order to return to it, the Christian must seek to repent of his sins and lead a life committed to the faith: “Let us look upon this [spiritual] purification as a kind of journey or voyage to our native land” (47). Furthermore, Augustine stresses that the things of this world “are to be used, not enjoyed, so that the invisible things of God may be clearly seen” (38, italics added for emphasis)—that is to say, Christians must not get attached to earthly things for their own sake, but instead turn all temporal things into tools to fulfil spiritual ends.
Finally, Augustine’s reference to the doctrine of the Trinity reinforces his commitment to orthodox Catholicism. The doctrine of the Trinity—that God exists both in three distinct essences and as a united whole—is a central dogma in Roman Catholicism but was rejected by many of the rival Christian sects of Augustine’s day. In mentioning the Trinity, Augustine makes it clear that he accepts Catholic doctrine on such matters and that he wishes to help uphold Catholic orthodoxy in his own theological work.
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By Augustine of Hippo
