NPPF - The Big G

[David Morris]

http://www.bartleby.com/65/au/AugustnSt.html

Augustine regarded all history as God’s providential preparation of two
mystical cities, one of God and one of the devil, to one or the other of which
all humankind will finally belong. His greatest purely dogmatic work is "On the
Trinity," but much of his theological teaching comes from his polemic writings.
His works against the Manichaeans, especially "Against Faustus" (his Manichaean
teacher), are important for the light they throw on this religion. Against
Donatism St. Augustine directed two works, "On Baptism and On the Correction of
the Donatists," in which he formulated the idea, since then become part of
Roman Catholicism, that the church’s authority is the guarantee of the
Christian faith, its own guarantee being the apostolic succession.    5 
The most important and vitriolic controversy in which St. Augustine was
involved was his battle against Pelagianism. The Pelagians denied original sin
and the fall of humanity. The implication of this aroused Augustine, who held
that humanity was corrupt and helpless. From his writings the great
controversies on grace proceed, and as professed followers of Augustine, John
Calvin and the Jansenists developed predestinarian theologies. Though revering
Augustine, many theologians have refused to accept his more extreme statements
on grace. Another of St. Augustine’s important treatises, On the Work of Monks,
has been much used by monastics. He was also a supremely important biblical
exegete. His letters are numerous and revealing. His most important works are
available in translation. 


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