Augustine of Hippo: The Father of Latin Theology

Question 1

How did Augustine become a Christian?

Answer 1

He conversed and baptised in 386 in Milan

Question 2

What were the confessions?

Answer 2

13 books, outlines Augustine’s sinful youth and his conversion to Christianity
- ongoing struggles of christianity
- what is right/justice -> into action
- will and inherited sins (that’s why infants are baptised -> Tertullian not a fan of infant baptism)

Question 3

Where did Augustine began to write? And what were his influences?

Answer 3

In Cassiciacum, into Platonism, these were dialogues

Question 4

What is his other famous works called?

Answer 4

De civitate Dei and the trinitate

Question 5

What does de civitate Dei contain?

Answer 5

• sack of Rome
  Constantine as the Messiah
• state is not divine
• constant struggle between two empires: civitas terrena & civitas dei (earthy city vs city of god)
• constant struggle between church and state

Question 6

What does de trinitate contain?

Answer 6

• discussion of the Trinity in context of the logos
• Psychological analogy ( <> psyche/soul
• the image of god

Question 7

what was donatism?

Answer 7

• roots in 3rd century: schismatic church
• Ideal of purity and sanctity
• Sacraments, performed by the lapsed,
  invalid > value of sacrament depends on
  purity
  -> what if a priest denied faith in case of execution, are the sacraments still valid?
• setting = church; officiant officiates

Question 8

What did Augustine say about donatism?

Answer 8

• even if a priest is a sinner, it doesn’t invalidate their rituals (donatism didn’t agree)
• influence of officiant is minimal = acts on
  behalf of God
• correctly performed act = essential

Question 9

What is pelagianism?

Answer 9

deal of sanctity ~ asceticism >
Optimism about the capabilities of humans

Question 10

What did Augustine think of pelagianism?

Answer 10

emphasis on sin, limitations of
humans (was he pessimistic? realistic?)