The City of God · Chapter
Whether before Christian times there were any outside of the Israelite race who belonged to the fellowship of the heavenly city explained
Augustine argues that even before Christ, there were individuals outside the Israelite race who belonged to the heavenly city, such as Job.
What happens
Augustine argues that even before Christ, there were individuals outside the Israelite race who belonged to the heavenly city, such as Job. He suggests that such persons were granted knowledge of the one Mediator, Christ Jesus, through divine revelation. He also notes that prophecies about Christ in Jewish scriptures serve as a powerful testimony for the Christian faith.
Themes in this chapter
True Worship and the One God
Augustine emphasizes that true fellowship with God comes through faith in the one Mediator, Christ Jesus, even for those outside Israel.
Sin, Grace, and Redemption
The chapter discusses how grace through Christ was revealed to righteous Gentiles like Job, showing God's redemptive plan for all nations.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author of the chapter, arguing for the inclusion of righteous Gentiles in the heavenly city.
- Job
Cited as a holy man from the Idumean race who belonged to the spiritual Jerusalem.
- Jesus Christ
The one Mediator between God and men, revealed to saints of old.
Key passages
“Nor do I think the Jews themselves dare contend that no one has belonged to God except the Israelites, since the increase of Israel began on the rejection of his elder brother.”
Augustine argues that even Jews cannot claim that only Israelites have belonged to God, because Israel's growth started after the rejection of Esau.
Augustine uses the example of Jacob and Esau to show that God's people include more than just ethnic Israelites.
“And I doubt not it was divinely provided, that from this one case we might know that among other nations also there might be men pertaining to the spiritual Jerusalem who have lived according to God and have pleased Him.”
Augustine believes that God arranged the example of Job to show that people from other nations can also be citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Job is presented as a proof that righteousness and faith in God existed outside the Israelite community.