Touring the City of God

Augustine of Hippo’s City of God might be the most consequential book of theology in the Western Christian tradition. The fifth-­century bishop started his magnum opus as a defense against pagan critics who blamed the Roman Empire’s problems on its adoption of Christianity, but the book grew into something greater as he worked on it intermittently for more than a decade. City of God, which runs to 1,000 pages in most translations, discusses theology, history, politics, literature, and philosophy. It’s a towering work of genius, but its size and numerous digressions make it a challenge for the average reader.

The Essential “City of God” Gregory W. Lee

With The Essential “City of God” (Baker Academic, 464 pp.), Gregory W. Lee, a professor of theology at Wheaton College, offers nonexperts an accessible entry into the Bishop of Hippo’s monumental work.

Lee has created what might be called “the good-parts version” of Augustine’s unwieldy tome. This edition, which abridges the excellent New City Press translation, cuts the text to a third of its original size. Lee supplements his truncated version with expansive footnotes and 22 brief essays that summarize Augustine’s thinking on diverse topics, including war, predestination, and women.

The foundation of City of God is that two cities have existed throughout time: the City of Man and the City of God. The City of Man is founded upon pride and a love of self, and history’s various empires, including Rome, are manifestations of this city. The City of God, on the other hand, is founded upon a love of the Creator, and it comprises all God’s people, whether part of Old Testament Israel or the Church, along with the faithful angels. Augustine argues that the various manifestations of the City of Man rise and fall and will experience judgment on the Last Day, while the City of God, which is on pilgrimage in this life, will never fail. It’s not surprising given this focus that Lee’s abridgment emphasizes political theology.

Part of the joy of reading Augustine is experiencing the long digressions and pondering how they connect to his overall argument. Gone are the intricate passages in which Augustine tries to solve the problem of evil by describing evil as privation. Absent are his views on the relationship between divine sovereignty and human will. Where are his discussions of martyrdom and the miraculous? Sure, these topics show up in the supplemental essays, but they don’t always reproduce the compelling and often beautiful means by which Augustine arrives at his ideas.

Some of the cuts might break my heart, but all quibbling aside, Lee’s edition serves as a helpful guide to this monumental work.