Theology
The Essential City of God A Reader and Commentary Gregory W. Lee Augustine is the most influential thinker of Western Christianity, and City of God is arguably his greatest work. After the sack of Rome in 410, many Romans despaired about the future of the empire. Critics of Christianity blamed the devastation on the empire’s conversion to the faith. City of God is Augustine’s monumental response to these challenges, developed through analysis of Roman society, engagement with classical philosophy, and extended commentary on Scripture. These sprawling discus- sions yield Augustine’s theology of the two cities, according to which all people are divided into two communities according to their ultimate loves, whether of God or of self. The length and complexity of City of God make its argument difficult to follow, even for specialists. This resource abridges Augustine’s work and makes it accessible for a wide readership. The selections focus on his social and political thought while indicating the larger shape of his work. They are accompanied by explanatory notes, essays on critical and complex topics, and an outline of the entire text. These aids will enable readers to experience Augustine’s work for themselves. This book will be useful for classes on City of God and Augustine and for core humanities courses. All readers looking for a one-volume introduction to Augustine’s City of God will value this work. “Augustine’s City of God is at once perennial and puzzling. Lee has created an incredible resource to help readers today and in the future encounter this classic. He has curated the best anthology of City of God that exists, surrounded the primary readings with incredibly helpful notes and commentary, and left room for readers to wrestle with Augustine for themselves.” —James K. A. Smith, Calvin University “Augustine calls City of God a ‘great and arduous work.’ It is his magnum opus. But the text’s loftiness comes with lofty demands. Lee’s judicious selections combined with his superb introduc- tion, annotations, and essays on vexed topics represent the ideal starting point for engaging this greatest work of one of history’s greatest authors.” —Han-luen Kantzer Komline, Western Theological Seminary “Augustine notes that his City of God is the result of ‘great and arduous labor.’ As anyone who has tried to read it knows, that can describe the reader’s experience too. For those daunted by the prospect, Lee has created this intelligently abbreviated edition.” —John C. Cavadini, University of Notre Dame
APRIL 2025 • 464 pp. • paper • $39.99 • 9781540967107
Gregory W. Lee (PhD, Duke University) is associate professor of theology and urban studies at Wheaton College and senior fellow for The Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies. He is the author of Today When You Hear His Voice: Scripture, the Covenants, and the People of God and several articles on Augustine. He also serves as teaching pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church.
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