The City of God · Chapter
Chapter XLV explained
Augustine discusses the cessation of prophets among the Jews after the rebuilding of the temple and their subsequent afflictions under foreign rulers, culminating in the Roman conquest and the birth of Christ.
What happens
Augustine discusses the cessation of prophets among the Jews after the rebuilding of the temple and their subsequent afflictions under foreign rulers, culminating in the Roman conquest and the birth of Christ. He interprets the prophecy of Haggai as referring to the New Testament Church rather than the physical temple, and traces the historical decline of the Jewish nation from Alexander the Great through the Maccabees, the Hasmonean dynasty, and the Roman intervention under Pompey.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Providence and History
Augustine interprets the historical afflictions of the Jews and the timing of Christ's birth as providentially ordained, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
True Worship and the One God
The desecration of the temple by Pompey and Antiochus contrasts with the true worship of God, and the prophecy of Haggai is reinterpreted as referring to the spiritual temple of the Church.
Sin, Grace, and Redemption
The Jews' worsening condition after ceasing to have prophets is linked to their sin, and the coming of Christ as the 'expectation of the nations' brings redemption.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and narrator, providing theological and historical analysis of Jewish history and prophecy.
- Jesus Christ
Born in the reign of Herod, fulfilling the prophecy of Jacob and becoming the expectation of the nations.
- Jacob
His prophecy about the scepter not departing from Judah until the coming of Christ is cited.
- Pompey
Roman general who entered Judea, took Jerusalem, entered the Holy of Holies, and made the Jews tributaries.
- Herod
First foreign-born king of the Jews, in whose reign Christ was born.
- Alexander of Macedon
Subdued the Jewish nation and offered sacrifices in the temple, though not as a true convert.
- Ptolemy Philadelphus
Benevolently dismissed Jewish captives and facilitated the Septuagint translation.
- Judas Maccabaeus
Led the Jews to victory against Antiochus and cleansed the temple from idolatry.
Key passages
“There shall not be lacking a prince out of Judah, nor a teacher from his loins, until He shall come for whom it is reserved; and He is the expectation of the nations.”
A ruler from the tribe of Judah will continue until the promised one arrives, whom the nations await.
Augustine cites Jacob's prophecy to show that the coming of Christ was timed with the end of Jewish self-rule under Herod.
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former.”
The future temple will be more glorious than Solomon's temple.
Augustine interprets this prophecy of Haggai as referring to the Church built with living stones, not the physical temple rebuilt after the captivity.
“And I will move all nations, and the desired One shall come to all nations.”
God will stir all peoples, and the one whom all nations desire will come.
Augustine sees this as a clear promise of Christ's coming to all nations.
