Who Was Augustine?

Augustine lived from AD 354-430.  He was born in North Africa to a father who was an unbeliever and to a mother who was a Christian.  His mother's name was Monica and she taught him Christianity.  Afterward Augustine studied philosophy and came to reject Christianity.  But eventually under the influence of his mother and a preacher named Ambrose, Augustine came to embrace Christianity.  He revealed that he was converted after reading Romans 13.  

Augustine went on to become Bishop of Hippo which is in northern Africa.  He became one of the greatest and most influential theologians in church history.  His most noted works are "Confessions" and "The City Of God".  "Confessions" was his autobiography.  In it he tells of his sinful lifestyle and then his conversion to Christianity.  "The City Of God" looks at the two cities, the city of God and the city of man.  In it he also defends Christianity against accusations that it was the cause of the fall of Rome.  

Augustine was involved in a major controversy with a British monk named Pelagius.  Pelagius denied original sin, teaching that people were not born sinners. According to him we become sinners because we sin.  He even suggested that it was possible to live a life without sin.  Pelagius believed that people have an absolute free will to choose God.  For Pelagius salvation was basically the work of man.  

On the other hand Augustine taught original sin, believing we are born sinners.  We sin because we are sinners.  He also believed it was not possible for man to not sin.  Augustine taught that we are unable to choose God because our will is in bondage to sin.  We only have a limited free will, we choose what we want not what we ought.  Augustine believed that only those chosen by God would receive salvation.  He taught the absolute sovereignty of God and believed salvation was the work of God.   

Augustine has been very influential throughout church history especially during the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther and John Calvin both held Augustine in high regard.  In fact those who think that what is today known as Calvinism was invented by John Calvin should take a look back at Augustine.