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By Saint Augustine - Confessions, 2nd (second) Edition: 2nd (second) Edition
Augustine, Confessions 2nd EDITION by Saint Bishop of Hippo Augustine. Hackett Pub Co Inc,2007
Hardcover
About the author
Augustine of Hippo
3,701 books2,235 followersEarly church father and philosopher Saint Augustine served from 396 as the bishop of Hippo in present-day Algeria and through such writings as the autobiographical
Confessions
in 397 and the voluminous
City of God
from 413 to 426 profoundly influenced Christianity, argued against Manichaeism and Donatism, and helped to establish the doctrine of original sin.
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 1, 2026
Confessions by Saint Augustine is a Christian classic worthy of its reputation. Just like reading any literary classic, it is probably best read in small parts and with supplemental notes.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this. I worried it would be very preachy, which it was in some moments. Granted, the entirety of Confessions was written as a long prayer from Augustine to God. Overall, Confessions was actually very authentic and engaging as an autobiography of Augustine. He never held back about his inner conflict with lust and his passion for seeking the truth. Struggles with lust and a desire to know your purpose in life are two things most young people can certainly relate to. I also appreciated how even after he converted to Christianity, he admitted that he still struggled with lust.
Augustine also wrote about his many friendships and how those friendships helped shape him into who he was. Again, it’s crazy how a Christian bishop who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries could be so relatable. The importance of friendships is certainly something we all struggle with nowadays. We don’t ever make time for friends. We keep ourselves busy. We make excuses. Then we get surprised by how empty and lonely we are.
Augustine also very much wrote Confessions like a philosopher. We read his intellectual thought process refuting Manichaeism and astrology. He later utilized his logic and reason to convert to Christianity. If you only read one book from Confessions, I highly recommend Book 8. It was the turning point of Augustine’s life where he finally converted. Book 8 was written in such a way that it almost felt cinematic. I wonder how Christopher Nolan would adapt a book like Confessions into the big screen. I would totally watch that movie!
I strongly emphasize the importance of reading Confessions slowly and utilizing outside material to better understand what you are reading. I also made it a point to read every footnote from the version I read, which was very informative. For example, I learned that Confessions heavily cited the Book of Psalms. Augustine was fascinated and devoted to Psalms. It made me want to reread the Book of Psalms. The reason many readers fail to understand or appreciate classical literature is that they always go into it cold. So they are left with no context or explanation, which can lead to frustration or downright boredom. This is also why I am such an advocate for book clubs as they serve as a great way to really dissect and analyze what you are reading in a broader group setting.
While overall I enjoyed reading Confessions, I can’t help but express that the last four books of Confessions were a pretty significant tonal and attention shift. Augustine focused on deep philosophical and theological concepts about memory, time, and creation. I know most people disliked the last four books, and unfortunately I agree. While I did find nuggets of truth in the last four books, it would have been better for Augustine to finish Confessions at Book Nine. Even with all that, Confessions was far superior to the superficial Christian literature we read nowadays, such as Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
I still highly recommend Confessions. It is a great read, just not an easy one. Much like prayer, it must be read slowly and contemplatively.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this. I worried it would be very preachy, which it was in some moments. Granted, the entirety of Confessions was written as a long prayer from Augustine to God. Overall, Confessions was actually very authentic and engaging as an autobiography of Augustine. He never held back about his inner conflict with lust and his passion for seeking the truth. Struggles with lust and a desire to know your purpose in life are two things most young people can certainly relate to. I also appreciated how even after he converted to Christianity, he admitted that he still struggled with lust.
Augustine also wrote about his many friendships and how those friendships helped shape him into who he was. Again, it’s crazy how a Christian bishop who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries could be so relatable. The importance of friendships is certainly something we all struggle with nowadays. We don’t ever make time for friends. We keep ourselves busy. We make excuses. Then we get surprised by how empty and lonely we are.
Augustine also very much wrote Confessions like a philosopher. We read his intellectual thought process refuting Manichaeism and astrology. He later utilized his logic and reason to convert to Christianity. If you only read one book from Confessions, I highly recommend Book 8. It was the turning point of Augustine’s life where he finally converted. Book 8 was written in such a way that it almost felt cinematic. I wonder how Christopher Nolan would adapt a book like Confessions into the big screen. I would totally watch that movie!
I strongly emphasize the importance of reading Confessions slowly and utilizing outside material to better understand what you are reading. I also made it a point to read every footnote from the version I read, which was very informative. For example, I learned that Confessions heavily cited the Book of Psalms. Augustine was fascinated and devoted to Psalms. It made me want to reread the Book of Psalms. The reason many readers fail to understand or appreciate classical literature is that they always go into it cold. So they are left with no context or explanation, which can lead to frustration or downright boredom. This is also why I am such an advocate for book clubs as they serve as a great way to really dissect and analyze what you are reading in a broader group setting.
While overall I enjoyed reading Confessions, I can’t help but express that the last four books of Confessions were a pretty significant tonal and attention shift. Augustine focused on deep philosophical and theological concepts about memory, time, and creation. I know most people disliked the last four books, and unfortunately I agree. While I did find nuggets of truth in the last four books, it would have been better for Augustine to finish Confessions at Book Nine. Even with all that, Confessions was far superior to the superficial Christian literature we read nowadays, such as Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
I still highly recommend Confessions. It is a great read, just not an easy one. Much like prayer, it must be read slowly and contemplatively.
April 8, 2024
What happens when a brilliant young man leaves his fundamentalist hometown to pursue both wisdom and "the good life"? That opener could be a blurb for any number of current books and films, which might explain at least part of the enduring nature Augustine's Confessions. It's a challenging book that repays more than one reading over time. Augustine's searching heart penetrates every page in his book, the first autobiography ever written.
It takes years of questioning before before the up and coming rhetoric teacher sees through the sophisticated facade in the teachings of his hero Manes. Then, fascinated by the eloquence of the famous Bishop Anselm, Augustine gradually sees more depth to Catholicism than his hometown version of the faith offered. Meanwhile, he struggles with his passions and his pride. He has a beautiful restless heart that won't settle for shallow answers to anything. Dr. Stephen Barr has noted that Augustine's musing on time in book 11 of the Confessions reflect the findings of modern physics on the cosmology of the early universe! But it is finally Augustine's love for the "beauty ever ancient, ever new" that wins us, even it challenges the reader to lead a richer search for ultimate truth.
It takes years of questioning before before the up and coming rhetoric teacher sees through the sophisticated facade in the teachings of his hero Manes. Then, fascinated by the eloquence of the famous Bishop Anselm, Augustine gradually sees more depth to Catholicism than his hometown version of the faith offered. Meanwhile, he struggles with his passions and his pride. He has a beautiful restless heart that won't settle for shallow answers to anything. Dr. Stephen Barr has noted that Augustine's musing on time in book 11 of the Confessions reflect the findings of modern physics on the cosmology of the early universe! But it is finally Augustine's love for the "beauty ever ancient, ever new" that wins us, even it challenges the reader to lead a richer search for ultimate truth.
January 27, 2024
This was my second reading of St. Augustine's Confessions but a different edition. Excellent
January 3, 2025
As a Christian, getting to read about someone like Saint Augustine who is often seen as a very respected Christian struggle with their faith was incredibly eye opening and reassuring. I believe that we only read through his personal accounts (the first 10 chapters or so), so I cannot speak for anything after that, but thoroughly enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews