📖 Biblical Definition
North African Church Father (354-430) and the most influential single theologian of the Western Christian tradition. Born at Thagaste in Roman North Africa to Patricius (a pagan civic official) and Monica (a devoted Christian); trained in classical rhetoric at Carthage; spent his twenties as a Manichaean (a dualist gnostic-influenced religion) and as a successful professor of rhetoric at Carthage, Rome, and Milan. At Milan in 386 Augustine came under the influence of Bishop Ambrose's preaching and the Neoplatonic-philosophical reading-circle of the city; experienced his famous garden-conversion (recorded in Confessions VIII) reading Romans 13:13-14; was baptized by Ambrose at Easter 387. Returned to North Africa; ordained presbyter at Hippo Regius (391); consecrated bishop of Hippo (395); served as bishop until his death during the Vandal siege of Hippo in 430. Augustine's theological corpus is immense: Confessions (c. 397-400, the foundational autobiographical-theological work that pioneered the introspective Christian literary genre); On the Trinity (399-419, fifteen books on Trinitarian theology); City of God (413-426, twenty-two books answering the pagan charge that Christianity had caused the sack of Rome by the Goths in 410); the great anti-Pelagian writings (against Pelagius's denial of original sin and unconditional grace, 411-430). Augustine's theological positions defined the Western tradition: original sin transmitted from Adam to all his posterity; the bondage of the unregenerate will; the absolute necessity of unconditional grace for conversion; predestination as the ground of the believer's salvation; the church as corpus permixtum (mixed body of wheat and tares until the eschaton). Both Roman Catholic and Reformed theological traditions claim Augustine; the Reformation appealed to Augustine against the medieval Catholic semi-Pelagianism, with Luther famously declaring that the Reformation was Augustine against Pelagius on the grounds of Paul. The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives Augustine as the supreme Patristic theologian whose work undergirds substantive Reformed theology.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
North African Church Father (354-430); bishop of Hippo 395-430; most influential single Western theologian; Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity; foundational source for both Roman Catholic and Reformed theology.
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AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, proper n. (354-430) North African Church Father; bishop of Hippo Regius (modern Annaba, Algeria) 395-430; most influential single theologian of Western Christian tradition. Born Thagaste to Patricius (pagan civic official) and Monica (devoted Christian); trained classical rhetoric Carthage; Manichaean and professor of rhetoric (Carthage, Rome, Milan) in twenties. Converted at Milan 386 under Ambrose's preaching and Neoplatonic-philosophical influence; famous garden-conversion reading Romans 13:13-14 (recorded in Confessions VIII); baptized by Ambrose Easter 387. Returned to North Africa; ordained presbyter Hippo 391; consecrated bishop Hippo 395; died during Vandal siege 430. Theological corpus: Confessions (397-400); On the Trinity (399-419); City of God (413-426, 22 books); anti-Pelagian writings 411-430. Defined Western tradition: original sin, bondage of will, unconditional grace, predestination, church as corpus permixtum.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 13:13-14 — "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Romans 5:12 — "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Ephesians 2:8-9 — "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
John 6:44 — "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal historic-theological discussion involves whether Augustine is more legitimately claimed by Roman Catholic or Reformed traditions; both have substantive claims.
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Augustine of Hippo as a proper name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal historic-theological discussion involves the question of whether Augustine is more legitimately claimed by Roman Catholic or Reformed traditions. Both have substantive claims: Augustine is the great medieval Catholic theologian, and his ecclesiology in particular (church as visible institution, hierarchical episcopal authority, sacramental theology) was foundational for medieval Roman Catholicism; Augustine is also the great anti-Pelagian theologian of grace, predestination, original sin, and the bondage of the will, whose substantive positions on these matters are the foundation of Reformed-confessional soteriology. The Reformation's appeal to Augustine against medieval Catholic semi-Pelagianism (especially in Luther's The Bondage of the Will against Erasmus, and Calvin's Institutes) was substantively warranted. The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives Augustine as the supreme Patristic theologian whose foundational work on grace, predestination, original sin, and the doctrine of God is integral to Reformed-confessional theology, while recognizing the elements of Augustine (particularly his ecclesiology and sacramentology) that the Reformation needed to refine in light of Scripture.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
North African Church Father; bishop of Hippo; Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity; anti-Pelagian writings.
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['Latin', '—', 'Aurelius Augustinus', "Augustine's full Roman name"]
['Latin', '—', 'Hippo Regius', "Augustine's episcopal see (modern Annaba, Algeria)"]
['Latin', '—', 'Confessiones', 'Confessions (the autobiographical-theological work)']
Usage
"Augustine is the most influential single theologian of the Western Christian tradition."
"Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity, anti-Pelagian writings are foundational."
"Both Roman Catholic and Reformed traditions claim Augustine; the Reformation's appeal against semi-Pelagianism was substantively warranted."