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On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, and Other Writings
The works translated here deal with two major themes in the thinking of St Augustine (354–430): free will and divine grace. On the one hand, free will enables human beings to make their own choices; on the other hand, God's grace is required for these choices to be efficacious. 'On the Free Choice of the Will', 'On Grace and Free Choice', 'On Reprimand and Grace' and 'On the Gift of Perseverance' set out Augustine's theory of human responsibility, and sketch a subtle reconciliation of will and grace. This volume is the first to bring together Augustine's early and later writings on these two themes, in a new translation by Peter King, enabling the reader to see what Augustine regarded as the crowning achievement of his work. The volume also includes a clear and accessible introduction that analyzes Augustine's key philosophical lines of thought.
310 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2010
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About the author
Augustine of Hippo
3,338 books2,015 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 2, 2019
A great collection of pertinent writings relating to grace, free choice, and the will. Highly recommended. The text that stands out from the collection is “On Grace and Free Choice.”
February 29, 2012
This is an excellent little anthology of Augustine's writings on grace and free choice. It's particular strength is the fact that it includes works from across the span of Augustine's career. This is notable since philosophers are so prone to focus on works of the early Augustine--the Augustine of the early dialogues, during his most Platonic (and least Christological) phase. This "philosophical" Augustine is taken to be representative, when in fact the development and maturation of Augustine's thought across his life is significant. The "whole" Augustine has to take account of the later works, remembering that Augustine was not a proto-analytic philosopher but rather a priest, bishop, pastor and doctor of the church who had significant philosophical acumen.
Peter King captures that in this anthology by including not only the early On the Free Choice of the Will but also later, pastoral works that have philosophical significance, notably On Grace and Free Choice and On Reprimand and Grace. It would have filled out the picture to have also included relevant letters and sermons, such as Letter 194 and perhaps sermons on Phil. 2:13-14. Even so, this is rich resource for both scholars and students. (I'm currently using it in a PhD seminar focused on Augustine and Jonathan Edwards.) Highly recommended.
Peter King captures that in this anthology by including not only the early On the Free Choice of the Will but also later, pastoral works that have philosophical significance, notably On Grace and Free Choice and On Reprimand and Grace. It would have filled out the picture to have also included relevant letters and sermons, such as Letter 194 and perhaps sermons on Phil. 2:13-14. Even so, this is rich resource for both scholars and students. (I'm currently using it in a PhD seminar focused on Augustine and Jonathan Edwards.) Highly recommended.
January 28, 2012
A must read for those interested in philosophy and the history of theology, only a "meh, maybe you could read it sometime" read for everyone else. This volume brings together three treatises on the will ("On the Free Choice of the Will," "On Grace and Free Choice", and "On Reprimand and Grace") and pertinent selections from other of his works (Retractions, Confessions, and "On the Gift of Perserverance"). By and large, as Augustine himself admits, there are more theologically useful as they were written later in his life. So, the earliest treatise "On the Free Choice of the Will" shows signs of a fairly immature doctrine of grace, while the latest writing in the volume "On the Gift of Perseverance" is rich with it (which Augustine acknowledges).
As the editor points out, this volume is mostly useful for setting up the terms and definition which later theologians would then work out (xxxii).
The translation is excellent and readable, even when the material is somewhat dense, and the edition is well presented.
As the editor points out, this volume is mostly useful for setting up the terms and definition which later theologians would then work out (xxxii).
The translation is excellent and readable, even when the material is somewhat dense, and the edition is well presented.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews