The Cambridge Companion to Augustine's City of God

Masterfully explains Augustine's major work The City of God book by book through engagement with theology, history and political science.

Fr. David Vincent Meconi, S.J. (Edited by)

9781108422512, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 August 2021

400 pages
23.5 x 15 x 2.5 cm, 0.68 kg

Augustine of Hippo's The City of God is generally considered to be one of the key works of Late Antiquity. Written in response to allegations that Christianity had brought about the decline of Rome, Augustine here explores themes in history, political science, and Christian theology, and argues for the truth of Christianity over competing religions and philosophies. This Companion volume includes specially-commissioned essays by an international team of scholars that provide new insights into The City of God. Offering commentary on each of this massive work's 22 books chapters, they sequentially and systematically explore The City of God as a whole. Collectively, these essays demonstrate the development and coherence of Augustine's argument. The volume will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of ancient and contemporary theology, philosophy, cultural studies, and political theory.

1. Book 1: Rome's crumbling and consecration as the beginnings of Augustine's theological historiography David Vincent Meconi
2. Book 2: Romulus's city: peace without justice in Augustine's political thought Oliver O'Donovan
3. Book 3: Rome's woes before Christ: history and rhetoric in The City of God Christian Tornau
4. Books 4 and 5: Roman religion and just power Dean Hammer
5. Books 6 and 7: nature, convention, politics and civil religion Mary Keys
6. Books 8, 9 and 10: Augustine and Platonism Mark Edwards
7. Books 11 and 12: angels and demons: the eternal foundations of the two cities James Wetzel
8. Books 13 and 14: the incomprehensibility of the fall and its consequences for humanity Mathijs Lamberigts
9. Books 15 and 16: Genesis, Paul, and Salvation history for the citizens of God's city Jonathan Yates
10. Books 17 and 18: prophecy as proof Michael Sweeney
11. Book 19: the ends of the two cities: Augustine's appeal for peace Andrew Hofer
12. Book 20: the last day: judgment purification, and transformation Isabel Moreira
13. Books 21 and 22: the end of the body: heaven and hell in The City of God David G. Hunter
14. Epilogue: the architectonic plan of The City of God John Cavadini.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]