1. Augustine of Hippo

2. Augustine of Hippo
Born November 13, 354 A.D., in North Africa (d. 430)
Father: Patricius (pagan)
Mother: Monica (Christian)
Well-educated; eventually became a teacher.
Initially in northern Africa
Later in Carthage, Rome, Milan

3. Augustine of Hippo
As a young man, rejected the Christianity of his mother
Led an immoral lifestyle
Became involved with Manichaeism
In Milan, he came under the teaching of Ambrose (Bishop of Milan)
Converted to Christianity in garden in Milan
Tollo Lege! Romans 13:13-14

4. Augustine of Hippo Christianity would quickly change his life
Baptized by Ambrose the next year (33)
By age 36, became a priest
After another 5 years, ordained bishop of Hippo (north Africa), where he would serve 40 years
Generally considered the greatest theologian of the early Christian church and one of the most influential Christian thinkers in history.

5. Augustine of Hippo
Augustine's influence can be seen in two major controversies he faced in his lifetime.
Donatist Controversy
Pelagian Controversy

6. Augustine of Hippo
The Donatist Controversy concerned the nature of the church (ecclesiology)
The Donatists desired a “pure” church
They opposed priests (traditores) who had betrayed the church during persecutions
An unworthy priest could not administer the sacraments
The Donatists considered themselves to be the “true church”

7. Augustine of Hippo Augustine's response to the Donatists
The validity of a sacrament does not depend on the virtue of the priest who administers it
The church is a mixture of the pure and the impure → true believers and false believers
Augustine's ideas would later lead to a “magical” view of the sacraments, however.

8. Augustine of Hippo
The Pelagian Controversy concerned the issue of salvation (soteriology)
Pelagius was a British monk who denied original sin
He believed that mankind was basically good and Adam was only a bad example.
He taught it was possible for humans not to sin; in fact, some people had never sinned
He opposed Augustine and accused him of teaching immorality (divine grace)

9. Augustine of Hippo Augustine's Response to Pelagius
Augustine emphasized the necessity of God's grace. (John 15:5)
Because of Adam, mankind lost its freedom and now in bondage to sin.
It is not man's will or moral ability that saves him, but God's grace.
God's grace must first liberate us from our bondage to sin.

10. Augustine of Hippo Basic Elements of Augustine's Teaching:
We are responsible for our own sins.
We are not puppets but have real freedom (contra the Manichees)
This freedom, however, is compromised by sin; we are unable to break free of it.
Result: Pelagius was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Carthage in 418.

11. Augustine of Hippo The Influence of Augustine
His thought dominated the early Middle Ages
His writings were used by the humanists during the Renaissance
His theology impacted Martin Luther and John Calvin during the Reformation
Two most famous written works → Confessions, The City of God
Result: Pelagius was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Carthage in 418.