1687 Confessions of Saint
Augustine Hippo Original Sin Christianity Bible Latin
Confessions is the name of an
autobiographical work, consisting of 13 books, by St. Augustine of Hippo,
written in Latin between AD 397 and AD 398. Modern English translations of it
are sometimes published under the title The Confessions of St. Augustine in
order to distinguish the book from other books with similar titles. Its
original title was "Confessions in Thirteen Books," and it was
composed to be read out loud with each book being a complete unit.
Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430), also known
as Saint Augustine or Saint Austin, was an early Christian theologian and
philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity
and Western philosophy.
Main author: Augustine,
Saint Bishop of Hippo.
Title: Sancti
Aurelii Augustini, Hipponensis episcopi. Confessionum libri XIII :
emendatissimi et notis illustrati, cum novis in singula capita argumentis.
Published: Parisiis : Typis & sumptibus Joannis
Baptistae Coignard, 1687.
Language: Latin
Notes & contents:
·
1st
edition thus
FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE
Wear:
wear as seen in photos
Binding:
tight and secure leather binding
Pages:
complete with all 428 pages; plus indexes, prefaces, and such
Publisher:
Parisiis : Typis & sumptibus Joannis Baptistae Coignard, 1687.
Size: ~6in
X 3in (15cm x 7.5cm)
FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE
Shipping:
Very Fast. Very Safe. Free Shipping Worldwide.
Satisfaction Guarantee:
Customer satisfaction is our first priority. Notify us
within 7 days of receiving your item and we will offer a full refund guarantee
without reservation.
$350
Confessions (Latin: Confessiones) is the name of an
autobiographical work, consisting of 13 books, by St. Augustine of Hippo,
written in Latin between AD 397 and 400.[1] Modern English translations of it
are sometimes published under the title The Confessions of St. Augustine in
order to distinguish the book from other books with similar titles. Its
original title was Confessions in Thirteen Books, and it was composed to be
read out loud with each book being a complete unit.[2] It is generally
considered one of Augustine's most important texts.
Contents [hide]
1 Summary
2 Outline
(by book)
3 Purpose
4 Audience
5 Editions
6 See also
7 References
8 Sources
9 Further
reading
10 External
links
10.1 English
translations
10.2 Commentaries
Summary[edit]
The work outlines Augustine's sinful youth and his
conversion to Christianity. It is widely seen as the first Western
autobiography ever written, and was an influential model for Christian writers
throughout the following 1,000 years, through the Middle Ages. It is not a
complete autobiography, as it was written in his early 40s, and he lived long
afterwards, producing another important work (City of God). It does,
nonetheless, provide an unbroken record of his development of thought and is
the most complete record of any single person from the 4th and 5th centuries.
It is a significant theological work, featuring spiritual meditations and
insights.
In the work St. Augustine writes about how much he regrets
having led a sinful and immoral life. He discusses his regrets for following
the Manichaean religion and believing in astrology. He writes about Nebridius's
role in helping to persuade him that astrology was not only incorrect but evil,
and St. Ambrose's role in his conversion to Christianity. The first nine books
are autobiographical and the last four are commentary. He shows intense sorrow
for his sexual sins, and writes on the importance of sexual morality. The books
were written as prayers to God, thus the title, based on the Psalms of David;
and it begins with "For Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are
restless till they rest in Thee."[3] The work is thought to be divisible
into books which symbolize various aspects of the Trinity and trinitarian
belief.
Outline (by book)[edit]
Tiffany Studios' stained-glass portrayal of St. Augustine
(Lightner Museum)
Part of a series on
Augustine of Hippo
Main topics
Original sin Divine grace Invisible church Predestination
Incurvatus in se Augustinian hypothesis Just War Augustinian theodicy
Works
The City of God Confessions On Christian Doctrine
Soliloquies Enchiridion
Influences and followers
Plotinus St. Monica Ambrose Possidius Thomas Aquinas
Bonaventure Luther Calvin Jansen
Related topics
Augustinians Neoplatonism Pelagianism Scholasticism
Jansenism Order of St. Augustine
v t e
His infancy, and boyhood up to age 14. He speaks of his
inability to remember the sins he almost certainly committed during this time.
Children serve as insight into what man would be if it weren't for being
socialized into waiting one's turn. God teaches us to think of others before we
think of ourselves, unlike children who cry until they are fed.
Augustine finds himself amongst bad companions, which leads
him to commit theft and succumb to lust. Augustine comes from a good family and
has never wanted for food. In this chapter, he explores the question of why he
and his friends stole pears when he had many better pears of his own. He
explains the feelings he experienced as he ate the pears and threw the rest
away to the pigs. Augustine argues that he most likely would not have stolen
anything had he not been in the company of others who could share in his sin.
Some insight into group mentality is given.
His studies at Carthage, his conversion to Manichaeism and
continued indulgences in lust between 16 and 19.
His loss of a friend and his studies in Aristotle and the
fit and the fair between 20 and 29. Augustine is overcome with grief after his
friend dies in his absence. Things he used to love become hateful to him
because everything reminds him of what was lost. He concludes that any time one
loves something not in God, one is bound to feel such loss. Augustine then
suggests that he began to love his life of sorrow more than his fallen friend.
His movement away from Manichaeism under the influence of
St. Ambrose in Milan at 29. Augustine begins to understand that things said
simply can be true, while things put eloquently may be lacking in substance. He
is unimpressed with the substance of Manichaeism, but has not yet found something
to replace it. He feels a sense of resigned acceptance to these fables as he
has not yet formed a spiritual core to prove their falsity.
His movement towards Christianity under the influence of St.
Ambrose at 30. He is taken aback by Ambrose's kindness but still does not
understand the substance of his teachings.
His rejection of Manichee dualism and the Neoplatonist view
of God at 31. He struggles to understand the Christian God.
His continued inner turmoil on whether to convert to
Christianity at 32. Two of his friends, Simplicianus and Ponticianus, tell
Augustine stories about others converting. While reflecting in a garden, he
hears a child's voice chanting "take up and read." Augustine picks up
a Bible and reads the passage it opens to, Romans 13:13-14. His friend Alypius
follows his example. Finally, Augustine decides to convert to Christianity.
His baptism done by Ambrose at 33, the death of his mother
Saint Monica, the death of his friends Nebridius and Vecundus, and his
abandonment of his studies of rhetoric.
Continued reflections on the values of confessions and on
the workings of memory, as related to the five senses.
Reflections on Genesis and searching for the meaning of
time.
Continued reflections on the book of Genesis. Augustine
especially focuses on the language used to tell the creation story.
Exploration of the meaning of Genesis and the Trinity.
Purpose[edit]
Confessions was not only meant to encourage conversion, but
it offered guidelines for how to convert. Augustine extrapolates from his own
experiences to fit others' journeys. Augustine recognizes that God has always
protected and guided him. This is reflected in the structure of the work.
Augustine begins each book within Confessions with a prayer to God. For
example, both books VIII and IX begin with "you have broken the chains
that bound me; I will sacrifice in your honour."[4] Not only is this
glorifying God but it also suggests God’s help in Augustine’s path to
redemption.
Written after the legalization of Christianity, Confessions
dated from an era where martyrdom was no longer a threat to most Christians as
was the case two centuries earlier. Instead, a Christian’s struggles were
largely internal. Augustine clearly presents his struggle with worldly desires,
such as lust. Augustine’s conversion was quickly followed by his ordination as
a priest in AD 391 and then appointment as bishop in AD 395. Such rapid
ascension certainly raised criticism of Augustine. Confessions was written
between 397-398, suggesting self-justification as a possible motivation for the
work. With the words "I wish to act in truth, making my confession both in
my heart before you and in this book before the many who will read it" in
Book X Chapter 1, Augustine appears to defend his position by admitting his
imperfections not only to his critics but to God, in a form of
reconciliation.[5]
Audience[edit]
Much of our information about Augustine comes directly from
Augustine’s own writing. Augustine’s Confessions provide significant insight
into the first thirty three years of his life. Augustine does not paint himself
as a holy man, but as a sinner. The sins that Augustine confesses are
relatively minor and include his struggle with lust, stealing pears at a young
age, and minor lies. For example, in the second chapter of Book IX Augustine
references his choice to wait three weeks until the autumn break to leave his
position of teaching without causing a disruption. He wrote that some "may
say it was sinful of me to allow myself to occupy a chair of lies even for one
hour." [6] In the introduction, to the 1961 translation by R.S.
Pine-Coffin, he suggests that this harsh interpretation of Augustine’s own past
is intentional so that his audience sees him as a sinner blessed with God’s
mercy instead of as a holy figurehead.[7]
Due to the nature of Confessions, it is clear that Augustine
was not only writing for himself but that the work was intended for public
consumption. Augustine’s potential audience included baptized Christians,
catechumens, and those of other faiths. Peter Brown, in his book The Body and
Society, writes that Confessions targeted "those with similar experience
to Augustine’s own."[8] Brown’s suggestion combined with the evidence that
Augustine agreed with the Catholic gender hierarchy, indicates that Augustine’s
intended audience was male. Furthermore, with his background in Manichean
practices, Augustine had a unique connection to those of the Manichean faith.
Confessions thus constitutes an appeal to encourage conversion.