The City of God facts for kids

De civitate Dei, 1483

The City of God is a very important book about Christian theology. It was written by a famous thinker named Augustine of Hippo. He wrote it in Latin a long time ago, in the early 400s.

The full name of the book is On the city of God against the pagans. In Latin, this is Dē cīvitāte Deī contrā pāgānōs. The book has 22 parts, called "books." Augustine started writing it around the year 412 or 413. He finished it much later, sometime between 422 and 429. It took him many years to complete this big work.

What is The City of God About?

The City of God talks about two main ideas: the "City of God" and the "City of Man." The "City of God" represents people who love God and live by His rules. The "City of Man" represents people who love themselves and live by earthly desires.

Why Did Augustine Write It?

Augustine wrote this book because of a big event that happened in 410 AD. The city of Rome was attacked and captured by invaders. Many people were shocked and blamed Christians, saying that abandoning the old Roman gods caused this disaster.

Augustine wrote The City of God to explain that Rome's fall was not the fault of Christianity. He argued that earthly cities, like Rome, are not perfect and will eventually fall. He wanted to show that the true, lasting city is the spiritual "City of God."

Main Ideas in the Book

• Two Cities: Augustine explains that there are two kinds of people living on Earth. One group belongs to the "City of God," seeking heavenly peace. The other belongs to the "City of Man," focused on worldly power and pleasure.
• History and God's Plan: The book looks at history from a Christian point of view. Augustine believed that God has a plan for all of history, and even bad events fit into this plan.
• Justice and Peace: Augustine discusses what true justice and peace mean. He argues that real peace can only be found in the "City of God," not in earthly kingdoms.
• The End of the World: The book also talks about the end of time and what will happen to both cities. The "City of God" will last forever, while the "City of Man" will not.

Who Was Augustine of Hippo?

Augustine of Hippo was a very important Christian thinker and writer. He lived from 354 to 430 AD. He was a bishop in a city called Hippo, which is in modern-day Algeria, North Africa.

Augustine's Early Life

Augustine was born in a Roman town. His mother, Monica, was a devout Christian, but his father was not. In his younger years, Augustine was not a Christian. He studied a lot and became a great speaker and teacher.

Becoming a Christian

After many years of searching for truth, Augustine became a Christian. This happened when he was around 32 years old. He then dedicated his life to God and became a priest and later a bishop.

Augustine's Influence

Augustine wrote many books and letters. His ideas have had a huge impact on Christian thought for over 1,500 years. The City of God is one of his most famous works and is still studied today.

Images for kids

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  Woodcut depicting Augustine writing The City of God

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  Excerpt from a copy of the manuscript "The City of God". Made by Jacobus De Stephelt in 1472.