# Of the nature of the first days, which are said to have had morning and evening, before there was a sun explained — The City of God

> Chapter companion for The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

## What happens

Augustine reflects on the nature of the first three days of creation before the sun was made, interpreting the light of the first day as either a material light or a symbol of the holy city of angels and blessed spirits. He explains the figurative meaning of evening and morning as the creature's knowledge of itself (twilight) and its return to the praise and love of the Creator (morning), and he maps this pattern onto the six days of creation.

## Themes in this chapter

### True Worship and the One God

The creature's return to the praise and love of the Creator is presented as the proper orientation of worship.

### The Two Cities

The holy city of angels and blessed spirits is contrasted with the darkness of ignorance or forsaking the Creator.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author of the chapter, interpreting the first days of creation and the meaning of evening and morning.

### Holy Scripture

Cited as the source for the account of creation and the phrase 'the evening and the morning were the first day.'

### Paul

Quoted by Augustine: 'Jerusalem which is above is our eternal mother in heaven' and 'Ye are all the children of the light.'

## Key lines

> For the knowledge of the creature is, in comparison of the knowledge of the Creator, but a twilight; and so it dawns and breaks into morning when the creature is drawn to the praise and love of the Creator; and night never falls when the Creator is not forsaken through love of the creature.

Knowing created things is like a dim twilight compared to knowing the Creator; it becomes like morning when the creature turns to praise and love God, and there is no night when the creature does not abandon God by loving the creation instead.

_Augustine explains the figurative meaning of evening and morning in the creation days._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters