Contents
Augustine of Hippo
Writing Confessions and The City of God and shaping Christian ideas about grace and human nature.
Confessions · The City of God
- Born
- 13 November 354
- Birthplace
- Thagaste, present-day Algeria
- Died
- 28 August 430
More people
Augustine of Hippo
North African philosopher, theologian and bishop whose writings became foundational to Latin Christianity. His work examines memory, time, desire and the relation between faith and reason.
Early life
North African upbringing
Born in Thagaste to Monica, a Christian, and Patricius.
Rhetorical education
Studied in Carthage and became a teacher of rhetoric before converting to Christianity.
Career
- 370s–380s
Teaching rhetoric
Taught in North Africa, Rome and Milan while exploring different philosophical and religious positions.
- 386–391
Conversion and return
Converted to Christianity, returned to Africa and entered religious community life.
- 395–430
Bishop and author
Served as bishop of Hippo and wrote extensively on theology and public life.
Ideas & writings
Confessions
An account of his life joined to reflections on memory, time and God.
The City of God
A response to Rome’s crisis examining earthly and divine communities.
On Christian Doctrine
A work on interpreting and teaching Christian scripture.
Beyond philosophy
A searching early life
Spent years associated with Manichaeism before his conversion.
Family bonds
His mother Monica and son Adeodatus occupy important places in his autobiographical writing.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: Philippe de Champaigne — later artistic depiction. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
