An Encapsulated View of the Best from Christian Publishers
Volume 3 . Issue 35
August 2007
C L A S S I C S
Confessions
COUNCIL OF REFERENCE
by St. Augustine
From the Classics Collection
Dr. Richard Averbeck
Rev. D. Stuart Briscoe
Dr. Paul Cedar
A Quick Focus
Mr. Dave Coleman
Dr. & Mrs. Larry Crabb
Mr. Roger Cross
Rev. Samuel Farina
Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel
Rev. & Mrs. Lud Golz
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks
Mr. Olan Hendrix
Dr. David Jeremiah
Rev. Knute Larson
Dr. John C. Maxwell
Dr. Bruce McNicol
Mr. Dean Merrill
Mrs. Elisa Morgan
Dr. Ray Ortlund
Dr. Luis Palau
Dr. Gilbert A. Peterson
Rev. Wes Roberts
The Book's Purpose
Tells the story of Augustine’s childhood and sinful youth
Details his education and his forays into the philosophies
of the day
Describes his misery as a sinner and his search for truth
Relates how Augustine finally converted to Christianity
and gave his life completely to God’s work
Celebrates the wonders of God’s creation
The Book’s Message
The Confessions are not Augustine's autobiography, but his
effort to recall crucial episodes and events in his life where, at
age 40, he can look back and see God’s providence and grace.
Saint Augustine, who lived from 354-430 A.D., details the story
of his early life, education, and successful career as a teacher of
rhetoric. Following his extensive search for truth and his conversion to Christianity, Augustine gave his life completely to
serving God. His spiritual odyssey and struggle toward the faith
offer insights to those who experience the good and evil of
their own souls and long to find rest in God alone.
Rev. & Mrs. Jamie
Rassmussen
Eight Main Points
Mr. Jim Warren
Augustine:
Dr. Rick Warren
Remembers his childhood, adolescence, and
his studies in Carthage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Teaches rhetoric, joins the Manichean
religion, and searches for the truth . . . . 3
Is influenced by Saint Ambrose and seeks
to understand Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hears a divine message through a child’s
song, and is converted to Christianity . . 5
Publishers
Catherine & David
Martin
Editors
Cheryl & Michael
Chiapperino
VIII
Resigns his professorship to serve God
wholly and reflects on the life and death
of his mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Examines the power of memory, the longing
for happiness, and various temptations of
the body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Expounds on the deeper symbolism of the
creation account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Offers an allegorical interpretation of the
first chapter of Genesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
22
I will now bring to mind all the
corrupt things I did in those days,
the sins that darkened my soul with
filth. It is bitter to remember,
but remembering makes you
and your love, O Lord, all the
sweeter. You rescued me from the
darkness I fell into, and for that
I give you praise. All I delighted
in, then, was to love and be
loved. But I could not distinguish
between love and lust, and lust
swept me over the edge into a whirlpool of sin. I was chained to a life
of sin, far from you. Rather than
keep my sexual desires within the
bounds of marriage as your law
requires, I spent my wanton lusts
in fornication and exceeded all your
limits. And yet in our sorrow and
sin, you wound us so we can heal.
augustine remembers
his childhood,
adolescence,
and his studies
in Carthage
We are your creatures, Lord, and it is instinctive
for us to praise you. Deep in our hearts we are not content unless we praise
you, “because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until
they rest in you.” Help me know, Oh God, whether to first call on you, or
praise you. Or to know you first, then call on your name. Or do I call on
you so that I can come to know you? And how can you, the God of all
heaven and earth, come within my small being?
You are everywhere, and yet nothing contains you. You are God most
High~good, powerful, merciful, beautiful, just, mysterious, strong, incomprehensible, unchangeable, yet changing everything, encompassing all of
time and yet outside the bounds of time, supporting, filling, loving all creation. You are my life, my joy! Help me rest in you. Wash me clean, Lord,
of my secret sins, and spare me from the enemy who would destroy my
soul. I have confessed my sins, and you have forgiven me.
From my infancy at my mother’s breast, you provided for me and gave
me nourishment. From you are all good things. Through you, all things
were created and all things hold together. In you consists all that exists.
You gave me life, and I praise you for that gift. As I passed from infancy
into boyhood, oh what miseries and mockeries I then experienced! Learning
to obey my teachers and submit to my tasks at school was a challenge. I did
not know why I had to learn these lessons, so if I was lazy or careless, I was
beaten. Early on, I learned to pray to you in my distress, asking your divine
help so I would not face beatings at school. I possessed the mental power
to learn but merely wanted to play, and so I was often punished for my disobedience.
As a boy I heard often of eternal life from my mother, who loved and
worshipped you. She raised me in the faith, although my father did not
believe until much later. She faithfully taught and prayed for me, but she
also foresaw that I would face much temptation and struggle as I became
a young man. For her faith was not mine, and I did not love you or know
you then.
How easily I was carried away, far from you through my quarreling,
lust, lying, disobedience, thieving, and desire to watch pointless and crude
shows. But I thank you, Lord, that even then, your providence was watching
over me. I felt eternity in my heart, and knew you were there, even if I did
not know you. I delighted in truth and despised being deceived. You gave
me a strong memory and the ability to speak well. You gave me friendship
and many other good things. I praise you for the good gifts you gave me,
and for how you watched over me in those years.
Why do I share these sins and
sorrows? I share them before you,
and before others, so that even
a few who read these words might
realize that no matter how far we
are from you, we can cry out to
you for help. There is nothing
nearer to your heart than a soul
that confesses and cries out to you.
When my father saw my restless
youthful desires, he happily anticipated future grandchildren and told
my mother. She, however, feared
for my soul, seeing that I was not
yet baptized and was heading toward crooked ways. She warned
me against sexual sin, but I ran headlong away from her admonitions.
I lusted also after thievery, not
out of any need, but just for the
pleasure of doing it. Late one night
during my sixteenth year, I went
with friends to a pear tree near our
vineyards and decided to shake
down its abundant fruit and steal
it. We ate some, but threw most
to the hogs and fully enjoyed the
foul sin of stealing and wasting
someone else’s property.
What a wretched sinner I was
to so thoroughly enjoy the wickedness of my sin! I love you, Oh Lord,
and thank you because you have
now forgiven me such heinous sins;
you have melted away my sinfulness
like ice. What twisted and knotty
continued on page 3
3
AUGUSTINE REMEMBERS HIS
CHILDHOOD, ADOLESCENCE, AND HIS
STUDIES IN CARTHAGE
continued from page 2
messes we create with our sins, O
God. I hate to look on my sin, and
I long for you, your purity, and
righteousness. In my youth I wandered far from you until my heart
was a barren wasteland.
“To Carthage
I came, where
there sang all
around me
in my ears
a cauldron of
unholy
loves.”
I sought to love and be loved,
in love with loving, but not truly
knowing how to love. Within my
heart there was a famine of the
true food that satisfies, which is
only you, my Lord. My soul was
sick and full of sores. I fell headlong
into the lust that ensnared my soul.
Only your sweetness could cover
such lustful rebellion. Stage plays
also fueled the fire of my miserable
life. I loved my own perverted ways,
and yet I was miserable without
you, merciful God.
I began my studies of philosophy and law, with the intent of excelling in the courts of litigation.
I became head of the class at rhetoric school and was filled with pride
over my giftedness and accomplishments. I studied many books on
eloquence and in reading a book
called “Hortensius” by Cicero,
came to desire immortal wisdom,
which put me on a path to return
to you, Oh Lord. The love of wisdom inflamed me, and my heart
was kindled to seek it at all costs,
wherever I could find it. I resolved
to search your Holy Scriptures, but
because my heart was not turned
toward following its steps, I soon
lost interest. Your Holy Word I
thought unworthy and too lowly
when compared with the stateliness
of Tully, for my heart was swelled
with pride.
Even then, in my studies, my
soul panted after you, and I heard
echoes of your truth in many other
books. But woe is me, how many
steps I took down to the depths
of hell for lack of the truth! When
we forsake you out of willful pride,
only by your grace and mercy can
we return. But when we confess
our sins, you are merciful and loose
us from the chains we made for
ourselves.
For nine years I wallowed in
the mire of sin and error, while my
patient and godly mother offered
fervent prayers on my behalf. You
gave her a vision of hope that I
would one day return to faith in
you.
“You are the life of
souls, the life of lives.
You live, O Life of my
soul, because you are
life itself, immutable.”
CBS
augustine teaches
rhetoric,
joins the Manichean religion,
and searches
for the truth
“What am I to myself without
you, but a guide to my
own downfall?”
In the next few years I taught rhetoric, motivated by greed to sell my
ability to speak and teach. I took a mistress to satisfy my sexual greed and
became fascinated with astrology and the Manichean religion. A friend from
my childhood grew to be a close companion, but then was taken from me
through illness. And yet before he died, he was baptized a Christian and
experienced a genuine conversion. His death threw me into grave depression.
My grief and sorrow were great and ought to have drawn me to you for
your comfort, but I did not know you. For wherever our souls turn, unless
they turn to you, there is sorrow.
continued on page 4
4
AUGUSTINE TEACHES RHETORIC,
JOINS THE MANICHEAN RELIGION, AND SEARCHES FOR THE TRUTH
continued from page 3
“Wherever we taste the truth, God
is there. He is in our very inmost
hearts, but our hearts have strayed
from him.”
I wrote a book on beauty and proportion and sought the praise of
men for my work. I did not see that all that is beautiful is of your making.
I read and understood all sorts of books on the liberal arts, and I read
with pleasure. But I did not know the real source of all that is true and
good. “I had my back to the light and my face was turned towards the
things which it illumined, so that my eyes, by which I saw the things
which stood in the light, were themselves in darkness.”
A Manichean bishop named Faustus arrived in Carthage, and I was
eager to hear him and wanted to question him about certain teachings
that conflicted with what scientists were discovering. When I realized
how uninformed he was related to these topics, I saw the error and inconsistencies of the Manicheans and began the search for truth in other
philosophies. Thus you led me, my God, in my journey to the source of
truth in you.
I planned at that time to go to Rome to teach there for higher fees
and greater honor and more disciplined students. But my mother wept
bitterly and begged me not to go, knowing that even greater temptations
would come my way in Rome. She came to the water’s edge before I
sailed to persuade me and would not go home without me. I calmed her
and convinced her to stay the night in an inn~and deceived her by sailing
off in the middle of the night. Oh the grief she poured out to you when
she learned of my deception! She thought you had not listened to her
prayers. “But you were letting my own desires carry me away on a journey
that was to put an end to those same desires.” And yet my mother kept
her faith in you, O God, and rested on your promise to save the soul of
the son she loved.
augustine is
influenced
by Saint Ambrose
and seeks to
understand
Scripture
By now my mother had come
to live with me, and she was devoted to bishop Ambrose because he
could show me the way to salvation. Although my mind was full
of questions, I did not pour out
my heart to you, O Lord, for help.
I wanted to approach Ambrose
with my struggles, but I did not
like to disturb him or ask in public.
I listened to his teaching faithfully
and began to have hope. I learned
that I had been misled about some
doctrines of the Church and learned
how rightly to interpret the Holy
Scriptures.
“Then, O Lord,
you laid your most gentle,
most merciful finger on
my heart and set my
thoughts in order.”
In Rome, I left off associating with the Manicheans but still refused
to believe that my sin was any fault of my own. My sinfulness was all the
more wretched because I thought myself not a sinner. I sought truth in
various teachings and philosophies, but lost hope in finding it in your
Church, due to my unanswered questions about your Scriptures. At times
I genuinely wished to discuss my questions with someone knowledgeable
in the Scriptures but did not pursue it. I kept busy teaching literature
and public speaking and collected many pupils and a strong reputation.
I was then asked to take a position in Milan.
I remembered my consistent
belief in your existence and power
and came to trust in the authority
of your Scriptures, which are clear
enough for all to understand, but
have deeper and secret meanings
as well. “My mind dwelt on these
thoughts and you were there to help
me and listen to my sighs. You were
my helmsman when I ran adrift,
and you did not desert me as I traveled along the broad way of the
world.”
There, you led me to your devoted servant, bishop Ambrose, so that
he might lead me to you. At first charmed by his excellent delivery and
speech but ignoring his content, I did not take to heart what he said.
Nevertheless, his meaning began to find its way into my heart, and I began to sense the truth in it. In a matter of time, I became a catechumen
in the Catholic Church, at least until I could more clearly see the next
step to take.
CBS
I felt utterly wretched, made
miserable by the burden of my own
ambitions. I hoped to win joy and
happiness through fame and accomplishment, and yet all I could find
was misery. While a beggar on the
street who had just had his fill of
food and drink from a kind soul
continued on page 5
5
AUGUSTINE IS INFLUENCED BY SAINT AMBROSE
AND SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE
continued from page 4
found happiness, I felt nothing but sorrow. I had chosen a life full of
fears and worries, and even my learning was no source of joy.
augustine hears
a divine message
through a
child’s song
“There is a world of difference
between the joy of hope that comes
from faith and the shallow happiness
I was looking for.”
This was the topic of frequent conversation with my closest companions,
Alypius and Nebridius, who together with me sought what course of life
we should follow. I was now thirty years old and still floundering in a
quagmire of doubt and frustration. My heart was buffeted this way and
that by my searchings and ambition, and still I delayed my conversion
to you. I feared too much to be deprived of a woman’s love, not knowing
that you would have given me the strength to withstand this weakness
if I had cried out to you.
I was planning to be married, and my mother was pleased. It crushed
me to let go of my mistress, but it had to be done in preparation for my
marriage. She left with me the son she had borne to me. My misery
grew worse. Though I was unaware, your hand was ready to pull me
from the mud of my sin and wash me clean.
“In you alone the soul can rest.
You are there to free us from the misery
of error which leads us astray, to set us
on your own path and to comfort us by saying,
‘Run on, for I shall hold you up. I shall lead you
and carry you on to the end.’”
I continued to wrestle with questions such as the source of evil and
how to understand your nature, O Lord my God. I clung to faith in you
and drank it in more deeply day by day. I looked outside myself for answers, but the light was within. You were there listening to my grief as
I labored to understand. Your secret touch was healing my soul.
Under your guidance, I began to enter the depths of my soul and
saw a light so different from any on earth. “Your light shone upon me
in its brilliance, and I thrilled with love and dread alike…And, far
off, I heard your voice saying ‘I am the god who IS.’ I heard your voice,
as we hear voices that speak to our hearts, and at once I had no cause to
doubt.”
I was encouraged to read Platonic books and found much to enlighten
me and help me there. You led me closer and closer to your truth, O
Father of lights. I read the works of the apostle Paul, and my heart was
set to trembling.
CBS
and is converted
to Christianity
About this time I was told the
story of Victorinus, an old man of
great learning who was an outstanding teacher and who had even been
awarded a statue in the Roman
forum. All his life he had worshipped idols, but in his later years
he was not ashamed to become a
Christian. For a time he was unwilling to make his profession public,
for fear of offending his proud heathen colleagues. But later, fearing
that Christ might reject him because of his timidity, he decided
to become a Christian in view of
all the assembly. And being such
a public figure, his faith guided
many others to salvation.
In response to this story, I began to long with fervor to imitate
his example. And yet I was held
back by my own unwillingness to
give up the vices that were dear to
my heart. “The new will which had
come to life in me and made me
wish to serve you freely and enjoy
you, my God, you who are our only
certain joy, was not yet strong
enough to overcome the old, hardened as it was by the passage of
time.” I was still a slave to the lust
that chained my heart.
I grew more and more unsettled,
and my heart cried out to you.
One day a man named Ponticianus
told Alypius and I the story of
Antony, an Egyptian monk, and
his way of life among others who
lived simply together in complete
service to you. We listened in amazement and wonder as Ponticianus
related how he and another friend
read a biography of Antony.
Thrilled to the soul, they decided
that moment to give up their positions serving the state, and in
humility give themselves to life in
continued on page 6
6
AUGUSTINE HEARS A DIVINE MESSAGE THROUGH
A CHILD’S SONG AND IS CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY
continued from page 5
the monastery like Anthony. The friend said, “I have torn myself free
from all our ambitions and have decided to serve God. From this very
moment, here and now, I shall start to serve Him.”
While Ponticianus thus spoke, you Lord, were showing me myself.
You were forcing me to see myself as I truly was. I was overcome with
shame at my sinfulness. But how my heart was warmed by the men who
chose so wholeheartedly to serve you! My inner self was divided, my soul
in turmoil. My feelings overcame me and I left Alypius to be alone in the
garden. I was overcome with anger with myself, knowing what I needed
to do but seemingly not able to do it. I gave way to my tears, and in my
misery I cried out to you in bitter sorrow.
All at once I heard a young child’s voice from a nearby garden singing
over and over, “Take it and read, take it and read.” I looked up, dried
my tears, telling myself that this could only be a divine message intended
for me to open the Scripture and read what I should find there. I hurried
to find the book of Paul’s writings, and there opened to Romans 13:13-14.
“Not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in
quarrels and rivalries. Rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ;
spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites.”
In a moment all the darkness of doubt was dispelled and the light of
confidence flooded my soul. I told my mother of my resolve to serve you
with my life, and she was overjoyed.
CBS
augustine resigns
his professorship
to serve God wholly,
and reflects on
the life and death
of his mother
How sweet to let go of all the fruitless ambitions and lusts which had
held me captive for so long! You drove them all away and in their place
gave me your unspeakable joy. “At last my mind was free from the gnawing anxieties of ambition and gain, from wallowing in filth and scratching the itching sore of lust.” I finished my teaching responsibilities and
was finally free to serve you completely. I spent time in the country home
of friends, writing and studying and learning, along with my mother and
Alypius. At the end of our vacation, we left for Milan, bringing with us
Adeodatus, my son, who was now a follower of Christ as well. Together
we were baptized and began our schooling. I was lost in wonder and joy,
meditating on your salvation and grace. The sweet hymns of the Church
often brought me to tears of joy. I had longed for you for so long, that
in breathing in your fragrance I could hardly contain my joy.
In joy I spent time with my
mother, discussing her life and faith
and all the wonders of your creation. It seemed in her presence,
our hearts could touch the eternal
wisdom of God. She told me that
my conversion as a Christian was
her dearest prayer. Now that God
had granted her wish, she said, she
had no further purpose on this
earth. A few days later, my mother
fell ill and later passed on into your
loving arms. I grieved greatly over
her loss. I treasured the memory
of her devotion to you and the kindness and patience she had always
shown to me.
CBS
augustine examines the
power of memory,
the longing for
happiness,
and various temptations
of the body
“Let me know you, for you
are the God who knows me;
let me recognize you as you
have recognized me. You are
the power of my soul; come
into it and make it
fit for yourself.”
Why should I confess all these
things to you? My hope is that
when others read of my past sins,
their hearts will be stirred to no
longer despair. Instead their hearts
will be encouraged by your love,
mercy, and grace, and they will
turn to you, my God. Continue
your work in me, O Lord, and
make perfect what still remains
to be perfected.
And now I seek to know your
mysteries, to understand the power
of memory that you created in me.
It is a vast sanctuary of all heaven
and earth and all that I have ever
thought or learned. I marvel at the
continued on page 7
77
We all struggle with many
temptations, of body and of mind.
My life is full of such weaknesses,
and my only hope is in you, my
God. So quickly our hearts are filled
with useless things that hinder our
prayers. You alone can change us,
Lord. How great is your love for
us! I place my hope in you, that
you will heal all my diseases and
make me fit for you!
AUGUSTINE EXAMINES THE POWER OF MEMORY,
THE LONGING FOR HAPPINESS, AND VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS OF THE BODY
continued from page 6
power of memory that you created in me. It is a vast sanctuary of all
heaven and earth and all that I have ever thought or learned. I marvel
at the power of thought and reason you gave to mankind. It contains
sights, sounds, tastes, feelings, learnings, facts, numbers~more than we
can fathom. The mind is awe-inspiring in its complexity!
“I shall go beyond this force that is in me,
this force which we call memory, so that I may
come to you, my Sweetness and my light.”
“Give me strength, O Lord,
so that I may do all things.
Give me the grace to do as
you command, and
command me to do what
you will!”
In what way, then, do we look for you? For when we seek you, we
are seeking a life of happiness. My soul gives life to my body, and you,
O God, give life to my soul. Certainly all who live desire happiness, even
if they have never experienced it. “For there is a joy that is not given
to those who do not love you, but only those who love you for your own
sake. You yourself are their joy. Happiness is to rejoice in you and for
you and because of you. This is true happiness and there is no other.”
augustine expounds
on the deeper
symbolism
CBS
subject to change, we are led to the
Truth which does not change.” It
is hard for us who are bounded by
time to glimpse eternity in all its
splendor. If only we could hold
our minds still to comprehend the
stillness of eternity! Eternity is supreme since it is a never-ending present. You are before all past time
and after all future time, O God
Almighty. To ask what time is, is
an intricate puzzle beyond our understanding! Your knowledge is
far more wonderful and mysterious
than we can imagine. The depth
of your Word is stupendous, O
Lord!
CBS
of the creation
account
Lord, I offer to you my thoughts and my tongue so that you may
complete your work in me. Let me contemplate the wonders of your
law from the very beginning, when you made the heavens and the earth.
Teach me and reveal to me the hidden treasures of your Word.
Your Word alone created all. And in the eternal Word, Christ, all
find your truth. “Even when we learn from created things, which are
augustine offers
an allegorical
interpretation
of the first chapter
of Genesis
It is a wonder to ponder why you
created the world, O God. It was
not out of any need, but out of
the abundance of your goodness
that you chose to create this world
and all it holds.
And like your creation, your gifts
shine out into the world. In your
wisdom you gave your gifts to your
children on the earth in the proper
continued on page 8
8
AUGUSTINE OFFERS AN ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION
OF THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GENESIS
continued from page 7
season. Some you gave the power to speak with wisdom, and they shine
like the sun and proclaim your truth. Others speak with knowledge, and
this gift is like the moon, a lesser light. Others are given gifts such as
healing, prophesying, miracles, tongues, and these gifts are like the stars
that shine in the sky. The same Spirit gives these good gifts for the benefit of all.
Thanks be to you, O God, for all that we see. It is from you, and it
is good. Your works proclaim your glory.
Volume 3, Number 35
Publisher
Catherine & David Martin
Editors
Cheryl & Michael Chiapperino
“When our work in this life is done,
we too shall rest in you in the Sabbath
of eternal life, though our works
are very good only because
you have given us the grace
to perform them.”
CBS
Published on the World Wide Web at
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The mission of Christian Book
Summaries is to enhance the ministry
of thinking Christians by providing
thorough and readable summaries
of noteworthy books from
Christian publishers.
The opinions expressed are
those of the original writers
and are not necessarily those
of Christian Book Summaries
or its Council of Reference.
Confessions is the name of a series
of thirteen autobiographical books by
St. Augustine of Hippo written between
AD 397 and AD 398. In modern times,
the books are usually published as a single
volume known as The Confessions of
St. Augustine in order to distinguish
the book from other books with similar
titles such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau's
Confessions. Public domain. Purchase
this book at any bookstore or online bookseller or access it free online at any one
of several websites, including www.ccel.org
(Christian Classics Ethereal Library).
The author: Saint Augustine
(November 13, 354 – August 28, 430)
was one of the most important figures
in the development of Western Christianity, considered to be one of the
Church fathers. He framed the concepts
of original sin and just war.
Summarized by: Wendy Connell, a
teacher, freelance writer, and mother
of four. She is a graduate of Houghton
College and SUNY Oswego. Wendy,
her husband, and their family live in
Canandaigua, New York.