Christ Over All 3.64 Brad Green, Stephen Wellum, David Schrock • Interview • "Augustine’s The City of God and Why It Matters Today"
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Dec 16, 2024 Brad Green, an author and classical school founder, and Stephen Wellum, a systematic theology professor, dive deep into Augustine’s 'The City of God.' They discuss Augustine’s views on the relationship between the Church and state, elaborating on his concepts of the two cities. The conversation touches on the Donatists and their historical significance, as well as the implications of Augustine’s political theology for modern civic life. They also recommend essential readings to better understand Augustine’s profound impact on contemporary Christian thought.
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Path to Augustine
- Brad Green's initial encounter with Augustine was through studying postmodern philosophers like Jacques Derrida.
- This led him to Augustine's work on language, meaning, and truth, offering a Christian perspective.
Context of City of God
- Augustine wrote City of God in response to pagan criticisms blaming Christianity for Rome's fall in 410 AD.
- Pagans believed that serving Roman gods had previously protected the empire.
Shifting Eschatology
- When Christianity became Rome's official religion, some Christians believed its triumph signaled Christ's imminent return.
- The Visigoth's invasion challenged this optimism, prompting Augustine to differentiate between earthly and divine kingdoms.
