Augustine on the Christian Life: Transformed by the Power of God

I didn’t buy this because I was a fan of Augustine looking for more information. This was a class textbook. So, I couldn’t say how this compares to other historical accounts of his life. What I can say however, is that this book drew me in and deepened my appreciation for Augustine.

I was very disappointed with the structure and tone of this book especially when compared to the rest of the series. The table of content sets the book up interestingly enough with Augustine as Believer, Teacher and Pastor but the format causes the author to continue to circle back and repeat the same life events over and over again to give a context for a few new paragraphs of information. While he does expand on certain controversies, doctrinal debates and life situations in each section, there is so much repetition that the book never gains much momentum and reading it from front to back becomes a laborious choir not a riveting pleasure. The tone is also drier, constantly corrective and more detached and scholarly then accessible, gracious and enthusiastic. The author's constant efforts to justify Augustine's actions, interpretations and relationships often comes across with more heat then light. As someone that has an extremely limited book budget and loves Augustine, I would encourage you to not be intimated and just go pick up a copy of "The Confessions "(which is heavily referenced throughout this book) and listen to John Piper's biographical message on Augustine [...] and Michael Reeves lecture. ([...])

A great book about an important man.

A good readable biography.

Well written and informative.

Gifted, but receiver loves

Excellent Series

Augustine on the Christian Life by Gerald BrayFor all that has been written on St. Augustine, from Peter Brown’s excellent biography to the many monographs on his theology, few have given much thought to how the saint from North Africa influences believers in their Christian life. In steps Gerald Bray, with his keen sense of vision for Christian history and the followers of Christ who have made dramatic impacts. Bray covers much ground in this book on Augustine, from his conversion to his writings, especially his polemical and Trinitarian ones, with an eye at every point to how this man of God helps us to follow Christ as well.The loss of a close friend is a time of much pain and soul-searching, such was the same for Augustine as he lost his good friend Thagaste. Yet, it is in the response after the death that muc introspection came for Augustine. Bray writes,“The bitter experience of losing a close friend led Augustine to meditate on the meaning and importance of love. Love lies at the heart of Christianity and corresponds to the deepest yearnings of the human heart. Everyone wants to love and be loved, but in human life all relationships come to an end. Over time we lose those who are nearest and dearest to us—our parents, our siblings, our friends, and even (as in Augustine’s own case) our children. The only love that is constant is the love of God, and it is in his love that all other loves acquire immortality (51).”Although Augustine did not convert after this point in his life, what he found in the ways of Manicheism did not satisfy his needs that only God could provide. This point of loss, of searing pain, led Augustine one step closer to Christ.Bray does an excellent job at helping the reader understand Augustine’s concept that “outside the church there is no salvation.” He writes, “The reason for this is that it was to the church that God had given the Scriptures and ensured that their message would be proclaimed in fullness and purity throughout the world. Schisms and heresies detracted from this mission, even if they preserved a substantial element of the apostolic teaching. Faith in Christ came by the hearing of the Word of God, and that was possible only in and through the ministry of the church.8 This is why Augustine said that it was impossible for anyone “to regard God as a merciful Father unless he is prepared to honor the church as his mother (134).” Further, with the lack of literacy among the common people, the church was where people could hear the Bible, even if it was in Latin. Part of Augustine’s remarks should be understood in light of his zealous love for the local community of believers in an individual congregation. Augustine did believe that corruption happened inside the church also, but he saw the sacraments and the Word of God residing in the church.With wisdom and grace, Gerald Bray gives us a book on Augustine that is to be commended to all.Thanks to Crossway for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book provides a great look into the Christian life of a pioneer of modern Christianity and is a great resource. I've been greatly helped in my personal life as well as addressing many questions raised by u believers. Very timely read for me.

Warum ist dieses Buch geschrieben worden?Die Flut der Sekundärliteratur über Augustinus reicht ins Unendliche. Wer weiss aber noch, was der Gottesmann und Gelehrte alles über die Sicht des christlichen Lebens gelehrt hat? Gerald Bray (* 1948) ist Kirchen- und Dogmengeschichtler mit profunden Kenntnissen der alten Kirche. Was er auf 200 Seiten zusammenbringt, ist erstaunlich. Vor allem wenn man bedenkt, dass Augustinus oft selbst zu Wort kommt.Zu welchen Begegnungen führt dieses Buch?Bray wählte ' passend zur Breite des Lebens und Wirkens von Augustinus ' den Weg der Komplexitätsreduktion: Er schreibt über Augustinus als Gläubigen, Lehrer und Pastor, um dann seine Bedeutung für die heutige Zeit herauszuschälen.Das Buch führt deshalb zuerst zu Augustinus als Mensch. Anhand seines Selbstzeugnisses, den Bekenntnissen, wird sein Weg zum Glauben beschrieben.Zweitens geleitet sie zumindest an den Punkt, wo sich die Fernsicht auf die damalige Zeit (Nordafrika, römisches Westreich in den letzten Zügen) erschliesst.Drittens gewährt sie einen Einblick auf seine Tätigkeit in der damaligen Gemeinde von Hippo.Was sind starke Argumente aus diesem Buch?Der zentrale Punkt von Augustinus' Leben war seine Bekehrung mit 32 Jahren. Alles vorher kann als Vorbereitung, alles danach bestimmt durch die Wiedergeburt gesehen werden (47).Wie ein roter Faden zog sich das tiefe Bewusstsein durch das Leben, dass nicht er Gott, sondern Gott ihn gefunden hatte. Genauso stark war er sich bewusst, dass Sünde mehr als eine Gewohnheit oder Entscheidung war, aber auch weniger als sein geschaffenes Sein.Bray beschreibt präzise, wie Augustinus ' bedingt durch mangelnde Kenntnisse des Griechischen und Hebräischen ' manche exegetische Ungenauigkeit unterlief. Trotzdem gelangte er durch eine christuszentrierte, an der Glaubwürdigkeit der Schrift orientierte Grundhaltung zu einer klaren Position und Hermeneutik.An welchen Stellen ist 'Durchbeissen' angesagt?Am ehesten im mittleren Teil (Augustinus als Lehrer), wo intensiv auf seine grösseren Bücher eingegangen wird. Dabei gilt es im Auge zu behalten, dass insgesamt 200 Seiten zu bewältigen sind. Absehbar!Was irritiert, weil es unvertraut ist?Es ging mir eher umgekehrt. Bray verkürzte die geschichtliche Distanz, um gewisse Äusserungen (zur Ekklesiologie, zur Sexualität etc.) besser einordnen zu können.Wer soll das Buch lesen?Interessierte Christen und Pastoren, die schon von Augustinus gehört haben (vielleicht negativ) und sich näher mit ihm befassen möchten. Philosophisch interessierte Leser, die sich ihm als Mensch nähern möchten.Durch dieses Buch findet der Leser einen Zugang zu Augustinus' Werk. Ich empfehle es als Einstiegslektüre. An zweiter Stelle empfehle ich das Lesen der 'Bekenntnisse', an dritter die Biografie von Brown, an vierter den 'Gottesstaat' (zumindest den zweiten Teil).