St. Augustine's 'Confessions'
A Must Read
You know how much I stress the importance of reading truly great books. The problem is that great works of literature—especially those that are centuries old—can be intimidating. What you need is someone to guide you through the classics and make them more approachable.
That is why I am telling you about the "Great Books Audio CD" series by my friend Dr. Ken Boa. In the audios, Ken analyzes and discusses from a Christian perspective the classic works that have helped shape Western civilization.
This month, he introduces listeners to the Confessions of St. Augustine.
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The Confessions were written at the end of the fourth century a few years after Augustine became bishop of Hippo in what is now Tunisia. In style and format the 13 books of the Confessions most resemble an autobiography or memoir.
But they are unlike any autobiography written before or since. One of the things that sets them apart is Augustine's purpose in writing them: Unlike other writers who use the genre to justify their lives and actions, Augustine, if anything, is doing the opposite.
As Boa tells us, Augustine confesses three things in the Confessions: his own sin; the truth of his faith; and the greatness of the living God.
Whereas other writers, including some Christians, who gloss over or omit the most embarrassing parts of their lives, Augustine does not spare himself. Not out of a desire for exposure, but as a way to emphasize God's mercy and grace. After cataloguing the sins of his youth, he cries out, "Such was my heart, O God, such was my heart—which thou didst pity even in that bottomless pit."
Interjections like that one are a characteristic feature of the Confessions. As Boa says, Augustine's account is a life in miniature of the human experience—a tale about our moving away from God and God's wooing us back. The enormity of what God had done in Augustine's life was as vivid to him when he was writing as when he was converted, maybe even more so.
Augustine confesses the truth of his faith by tracing his own spiritual journey—a journey that sounds remarkably modern. He describes his disillusionment with Manicheanism, whose Gnostic elements have modern counterparts. And he describes how St. Ambrose helped persuade him of the reasonableness of Christian faith. It is clear that Augustine became a Christian not because of the way it made him feel—but because he believed that it was true.
If the Confessions were only a personal story, it would still be a must-read. But it is much more. Most scholars, both Christian and secular, rank Confessions as one of the classics in the Western literary tradition. And Augustine himself was the single most critical influence in shaping the civilization in which we live.
Given Augustine's impact and Ken Boa's skill in bringing Augustine to life, it is time for you to make Augustine's acquaintance. Reading him profoundly influenced me and my growth in Christ. So I heartily recommend to you that you subscribe to Ken Boa's "Great Books Audio CD" series. You can do so by visiting www.BreakPoint.org.
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From BreakPoint®, December 3, 2007, Copyright 2007, Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with the permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or distributed without the express written permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. "BreakPoint®" and "Prison Fellowship Ministries®" are registered trademarks of Prison Fellowship
