# Chapter XX: The Separation of Light and Darkness and Divine Approval explained — The City of God

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

## What happens

Augustine examines the scriptural account of the separation of light from darkness, noting that God's approval is given to the light alone, not to the darkness, because the darkness represents the fault of the fallen angels, not a natural evil. He contrasts this with the later creation of the heavenly bodies, where both light and darkness are approved because they are sinless.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin, Grace, and Redemption

The darkness is evil by its own fault, not by nature, pointing to the fall of the will.

### True Worship and the One God

God alone is the Creator who approves only what is good, distinguishing true worship from pagan dualism.

## Character check-ins

### Augustine

Author and interpreter of the Genesis account, explaining the theological significance of divine approval.

## Key lines

> And God saw the light that it was good.

God looked upon the light and declared it good.

_Augustine emphasizes that this approval is given only to the light, not to the darkness._

> And God divided the light from the darkness: and God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

God separated the light from the darkness, naming the light Day and the darkness Night.

_Augustine notes that no divine approval follows this separation, because the darkness is evil by its own fault._

## Links

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