# XIV explained — The City of God

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

## What happens

Augustine analyzes the Lord's statement about the devil not abiding in the truth because the truth was not in him, explaining the unusual phrasing as a cause-and-effect reversal similar to a psalm where the effect demonstrates the cause.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin, Grace, and Redemption

Discusses the devil's failure to abide in truth as a cause of his fall, highlighting the nature of sin.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author and commentator, explaining the scriptural phrasing about the devil.

### Jesus Christ

Quoted as the source of the statement about the devil not abiding in the truth.

## Key lines

> He abode not in the truth, because the truth is not in him.

He did not remain in the truth because the truth was not within him.

_Augustine explains the reversed cause-and-effect in this scriptural phrasing._

> I have called upon Thee, for Thou hast heard me, O God.

I have prayed to You, because You have answered me, O God.

_Augustine cites this psalm to illustrate a similar rhetorical reversal where the effect proves the cause._

## Links

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