# Chapter XII: A Comparison of the Blessedness of the Righteous and Our First Parents in Paradise explained — The City of God

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

## What happens

Augustine compares the blessedness of the righteous who have not yet received their divine reward with that of Adam and Eve in Paradise before the Fall. He argues that while the first parents enjoyed greater present comfort, the righteous who have certain hope of eternal life with God are more blessed, even amid bodily torments, because they know their future felicity is secure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin, Grace, and Redemption

The chapter contrasts the uncertain blessedness of Adam before sin with the certain hope of the righteous through grace.

### Eschatology and the Last Things

Discusses the future reward of the righteous and the eternal enjoyment of God beyond the present life.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author of the chapter, comparing the blessedness of the righteous and the first parents in Paradise.

### Adam

Representing the first man in Paradise, whose blessedness was uncertain due to the possibility of sin.

## Key lines

> For what man can know that he will persevere to the end in the exercise and increase of grace, unless he has been certified by some revelation from Him who, in His just and secret judgment, while He deceives none, informs few regarding this matter?

No one can be certain of their perseverance in grace unless God reveals it to them, as He does for only a few.

_Augustine emphasizes the uncertainty of human perseverance and the need for divine revelation._

> Accordingly, so far as present comfort goes, the first man in Paradise was more blessed than any just man in this insecure state; but as regards the hope of future good, every man who not merely supposes, but certainly knows that he shall eternally enjoy the most high God in the company of angels, and beyond the reach of ill⁠—this man, no matter what bodily torments afflict him, is more blessed than was he who, even in that great felicity of Paradise, was uncertain of his fate.

Adam had greater present happiness, but the righteous who are certain of eternal joy with God are more blessed, even if they suffer physically.

_Augustine contrasts temporal comfort with eternal certainty to argue for the superior blessedness of the faithful._

## Links

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