Augustine's Confessions

Augustine's Confessions

The content of my paper will be an analysis of Augustine’s Confessions. I will focus on the first nine chapters of the book. First, I will write an introductory page about Augustine. Second, I will explain why Augustine wrote the Confessions and the importance of the Confessions as a philosophical work. I will analyze Augustine’s view of God and show the main theme of his book, which is, the sovereign God of grace and the sovereign grace of God. I will focus on Augustine’s view of God and His grace.

Augustine was born Aurelius Augustinus on November 13, 354 in North Africa. He received a classical Latin education and went to study rhetoric at the age of twelve in Madaura. He later studied at Cathrage and became a Manichean. After reading Cicero’s Hortensius Augustine was inspired to dedicate himself to the study of philosophy. He opened a school of rhetoric in Cathrage, he later went on to teach in Milan. In 386 he had his conversion and was baptized later. In 391 Augustine was appointed Bishop of Hippo.

He is considered the greatest Church Father. He was a defender of the Catholic faith and wrote and developed many doctrines to combat the heresies of his day, including his most famous rejection of the Pelagian doctrine. Pelagianism denied original sin and affirmed the ability of human beings to be righteous by the exercise of free will. “Augustine insisted on the fallen nature of man and the need for salvation by divine grace. (592)”

Augustine was also a great philosopher. His analysis of the nature of time, skepticism, and the relationship between divine foreknowledge and human freedom are all important philosophical contributions. His two most famous writings are the Confessions...

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...stine then talks about his dislike of Scriptures. And attributed this to his “swollen pride (42).” He believed the Bible to be for children, and he thought he was grown up. They were not worthy to be compared to the eloquence of Cicero. He realizes his error now and now views the scriptures with reverence.

Augustine is constantly searching for the truth and it is at this time that he believes it is found in the doctrine of the Manichees. The Manichees believe that the universe is divided into realms of good and evil. Augustine liked this theory and it would account for why he took such pleasure in committing evil. This also offered Augustine a convenient rationalization for his own behavior, which would no longer make him responsible for his actions. Although he is extremely disappointed when he meets the bishop Faustes, who is not really a lover of truth.