The City of God · Chapter
LI explained
Augustine explains that heretics and enemies of the Church, though they cause grief and persecution, are used by God for the discipline and benefit of the faithful.
What happens
Augustine explains that heretics and enemies of the Church, though they cause grief and persecution, are used by God for the discipline and benefit of the faithful. The devil stirs up opposition, but divine providence tempers adversity with consolation, and the Church continues its pilgrimage from Abel to the end of the world.
Themes in this chapter
Sin, Grace, and Redemption
Heretics and the wicked are used by God for the discipline and good of the faithful, showing how sin is turned to redemptive purpose.
Peace, Justice, and the Order of Love
The Church's patience, benevolence, and discipline toward enemies reflect the order of love and justice.
Divine Providence and History
Divine providence governs the Church's pilgrimage, using both prosperity and adversity for her benefit.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and expositor of the Church's pilgrimage amid persecution and consolation.
- Abel
First righteous martyr, slain by his wicked brother, marking the beginning of the Church's pilgrimage.
- Paul
Quoted for teachings on rejoicing in hope, patience in tribulation, and the Lord knowing His own.
- Jesus Christ
The liberating Mediator and the one whose name heretics oppose under a Christian guise.
Key passages
“But the devil, seeing the temples of the demons deserted, and the human race running to the name of the liberating Mediator, has moved the heretics under the Christian name to resist the Christian doctrine, as if they could be kept in the city of God indifferently without any correction, just as the city of confusion indifferently held the philosophers who were of diverse and adverse opinions.”
The devil, observing that pagan temples are abandoned and people are flocking to Christ, has stirred up heretics who call themselves Christians to oppose true Christian teaching, as if the Church could tolerate them uncorrected, just as the earthly city tolerated conflicting philosophers.
Augustine explains the origin of heresy as a diabolical strategy to undermine the Church.
“For all the enemies of the Church, whatever error blinds or malice depraves them, exercise her patience if they receive the power to afflict her corporally; and if they only oppose her by wicked thought, they exercise her wisdom: but at the same time, if these enemies are loved, they exercise her benevolence, or even her beneficence, whether she deals with them by persuasive doctrine or by terrible discipline.”
All enemies of the Church, whether they physically harm her or merely oppose her with evil thoughts, train her in patience and wisdom; and when loved, they train her in benevolence and good works, whether through gentle teaching or harsh correction.
Augustine describes how the Church benefits from opposition through the exercise of virtues.
“Thus in this world, in these evil days, not only from the time of the bodily presence of Christ and His apostles, but even from that of Abel, whom first his wicked brother slew because he was righteous, and thenceforth even to the end of this world, the Church has gone forward on pilgrimage amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God.”
So in this present evil age, from the time of Christ and the apostles, and even from Abel—the first righteous man murdered by his brother—until the end of the world, the Church has journeyed as a pilgrim, experiencing both worldly persecution and divine comfort.
Augustine traces the continuous pilgrimage of the Church from Abel to the end of time.