The Essential City of God: A Reader and Commentary

Augustine is the most influential thinker of Western Christianity, and City of God is arguably his greatest work.

After the sack of Rome in 410, many Romans despaired about the future of the empire. Critics of Christianity blamed the devastation on the empire’s conversion to the faith. City of God is Augustine’s monumental response to these challenges, developed through analysis of Roman society, engagement with classical philosophy, and extended commentary on Scripture.

These sprawling discussions yield Augustine’s theology of the two cities, according to which all people are divided into two communities according to their ultimate loves, whether of God or of self. Christians are called to love eternal goods over temporal goods even as they seek the peace of the earthly city.

The length and complexity of City of God make its argument difficult to follow, even for specialists. This resource abridges Augustine’s work and makes it accessible for a wide readership. The selections focus on his social and political thought while indicating the larger shape of his work. They are accompanied by explanatory notes, essays on critical and complex topics, and an outline of the entire text. These aids will enable readers to experience Augustine’s work for themselves.

The Essential ＂City of God＂ retrieves ancient wisdom for the modern world, offering an enduring vision for faithfulness and hope in times of social instability.

Gregory W. Lee (PhD, Duke University) is associate professor of theology and urban studies at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where he also serves as senior fellow for the Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies. He is theologian in residence at Lawndale Christian Community Church. Lee is the author of Today When You Hear His Voice: Scripture, the Covenants, and the People of God and numerous articles on Augustine.