February 2014 suggestion from the Pastor

Augustine of Hippo: A Biography

by Peter Brown

Pastor’s Description

Next to the Apostle Paul, it is fair to say that no theologian has impacted the Church in the West as much as Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.  By considering newly discovered letters of Augustine, Peter Brown brings new light to this second edition of his masterful biography.  Dividing the book into five parts, the author covers most of the important influences that shaped and energized this great Christian thinker.

The reader is given a fascinating view of the Roman North Africa in which Augustine was raised, as well as insight into the cultural setting that contributed to his premarital relationships, his background in philosophy, the influence of his mother, his famous conversion and rise to the bishopric of Hippo, the many theological battles he waged (many of which we are beneficiaries of today), and his high view of God and Christ.

Brown’s work is not simply a glowing report of a long gone man of history, but a warts-and-all portrayal of a real man, living in a real world, who after conversion passionately served the church of Jesus Christ.

The final chapter is Brown’s attempt to correct some of his own misconceptions from the first edition by utilizing the newly discovered letters and documents previously mentioned.  While the length of the biography may seem daunting (473 pages), the author has written in a fast paced and easy-to-read style that keeps one’s attention and makes Augustine an enjoyable read.

I highly recommend Augustine of Hippo as a book that informs, challenges, amuses, and demonstrates the power of God in the life of a brilliant, yet very fallible person.

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