Augustine

Augustine (354-430)

Augustine, also known as St. Augustine or Augustine of Hippo, is considered by many as the most important Christian scholar of all time, and the greatest of the four great Church Fathers (i.e., Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, and Gregory the Great). He was born in 354 in the Roman province of Numidia (South Africa).

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Augustine's "...theological position and influence ... may be said to be unrivalled. No single name has ever exercised such power over the Christian church, and no one mind ever made such an impression upon Christian thought."

While experimenting with Manicheanism and neoplatonism, Augustine taught philosophy in Carthage, Rome and Milan. While in Milan, he met Ambrose, and soon became a Christain. He was baptized by Ambrose in 387, and subsequently moved back to North Africa where was ordained presbyter in 391, and bishop of Hippo in 396, a position he maintained until death.

His most influential writings include Confessions and City of God, as well as treatises such as On Fath, Hope and Love, and On Christian Doctrine. He also authored a number of works on the Trinity, some early dialogues, and several polemical attacks on heresies within the early church.

All of Augustine's writings are available in the public domain, two of which are available here:

Confessions

City of God

Access to Augustine's complete list of public domain documents can be obtained at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.