"And now regarding love, which the apostle says is greater than the other two—that
is, faith and hope—for the more richly it dwells in a man, the better the man in whom it
dwells. For when we ask whether someone is a good man, we are not asking what he believes,
or hopes, but what he loves."

Although I don't agree with Augustine on several points, I have to admit that this is a brilliant, compact, and dense little work. Several times I raised objections to some proposition or another, and in the immediately following section the objections would be treated! That doesn't mean I was always convinced, but I was impressed with the thoughtfulness. I don't know if I've ever had an experience with a book quite like that! As an encapsulation, it would serve as a good introduction to Augustine. Like all of Augustine's work though, except perhaps Confessions, the book can be exhausting to read just because of the depth of thought and the efficiently dense manner in which it is presented.

I gave it four stars because I disagree with some of the basic, unexamined propositions that lay at the foundations of sections concerning topics such as the intermediate state, penance and satisfaction, and predestination.

It's a classic for a reason; a helpful brief summary of many aspects of the christian faith and life.

There are points that I dispute as a protestant but it remains a very valuable work.

Truth in advertising: I did not read this translation. I read an old translation by Paolucci, with an historical analysis by Adolph Harnack at the end. Publishing by Regnery a long time ago. In any case I found this quite disappointing, mostly because it was like reading 8th grade catechism. Harnack's essay was better, though I usually enjoy Harnack's historical essays. Most of the book, by the way, is on faith. There is comparatively little on hope and love. While I admire some things Augustine wrote, this is not one.

An excellent explanation of the Christian faith by one of the greatest theologians of all time, St. Augustine of Hippo.

It was a pleasure to get my hands on the text with Introduction from Manhattan priest and scholar, whose Ambrose had a profound impact on me at Gethsemani around this time last year.

An elegant exposition of the Christian faith. More accurately, I would say, it is a summary of St. Augustine’s mature theological-philosophical thought, all encapsulated under the theme of faith, hope, and love.

This handbook truly solidifies Augustine´s position as doctor ecclesiae, not just of the Roman church, but also of the whole trajectory of Western Christianity. In 33 short chapters (or 122 points) Augustine runs through his whole system: on the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, ontology (the nature of good and evil, the anthropology of total depravity), soteriology (Christ's atonement, the election, double predestination, and sanctification of man), ecclesiology (the nature of the Church, baptismal regeneration), angelology (and how the elect replace the fallen angels), his free will theodicy (it is honestly more profound than I had thought), and on Christian ethics. He does this in a way that all the points are grounded in the context of faith, hope, and love.

It's definitely worth a read, especially for one just getting into Augustinianism. His thoughts linger still today in many forms of Christian theology and philosophy. Thomism, Lutheranism, Calvinism, Wesleyanism, even Postmodern secular thought still petition for his intellectual intercession. Indeed, Augustine was the Plato that Plato himself wasn't.

Short and good, although it contains some things which appear "childish and barren" in the light of subsequent history. The (erroneous) idea that children not only inherit original sin, but the sins of all their ancestors, passes by without being questioned. St. Augustine I have found is sometimes strict, "rigorist," just as some of the eastern fathers are sometimes lax.

reading this confirmed to me one thing- my mixed feelings concerning St. Augustine have not changed

Augustine writes wonderfully well! I highly recommend this little book to anyone looking to better understand what it means to "worship God."

“...the man who has not love believes in vain, even though his beliefs are true; and hopes in vain, even though the objects of his hope are a real part of true happiness; unless, indeed, he believes and hopes for this, that he may obtain by prayer the blessing of love.”

A lovely little introduction to Augustine’s theology.