The City of God · Chapter
LIV explained
Augustine refutes the pagan prophecy that the Christian religion would last only 365 years, showing that the period has passed and Christianity continues to flourish.
What happens
Augustine refutes the pagan prophecy that the Christian religion would last only 365 years, showing that the period has passed and Christianity continues to flourish. He traces the beginning of Christian worship to the sending of the Holy Spirit after Christ's resurrection, calculates the 365-year span, and notes the subsequent destruction of pagan temples in Carthage. He concludes by contrasting the earthly city, which creates false gods, with the heavenly city, which is made by the true God and awaits the last judgment.
Themes in this chapter
True Worship and the One God
Augustine contrasts the true worship of Christ with pagan idolatry, emphasizing that the heavenly city is made by the true God and offers true sacrifice.
Sin, Grace, and Redemption
The chapter highlights the spread of Christian faith through grace and the Holy Spirit, not magic, and the redemption offered through Christ's resurrection.
Eschatology and the Last Things
Augustine concludes by pointing to the last judgment as the separation of the two cities, each receiving its eternal end.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and narrator; refutes pagan prophecy and calculates the timeline of Christian worship.
- Jesus Christ
Central figure; His resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit mark the beginning of Christian faith.
- Peter
Apostle; accused by pagans of using magic arts to spread Christianity, but Augustine defends him as a faithful preacher.
- Paul
Apostle; quoted regarding the definition of faith through Christ's resurrection.
- John
Mentioned as the Baptist who baptized Christ in the Jordan.
- Moses
Given the old law from Mount Sinai, contrasted with the new law from Jerusalem.
Key passages
“He shall reign from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”
Christ's dominion will extend universally, from one sea to another and from the river to the farthest lands.
Augustine cites this prophecy to show the global scope of Christ's reign, beginning from His baptism.
“But now He announces to men that all everywhere should repent, because He hath appointed a day in which to judge the world in equity, by the Man in whom He hath defined the faith to all men, raising Him from the dead.”
God now commands all people everywhere to repent, for He has set a day for just judgment through the man Jesus, whom He raised from the dead, thereby establishing the faith for everyone.
Augustine uses Paul's speech to the Athenians to argue that faith was defined by Christ's resurrection.
“Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.”
The new law and divine word will originate from Zion and Jerusalem.
Augustine contrasts the old law from Sinai with the new covenant beginning in Jerusalem.