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Augustine of Hippo: His Life and Impact
Arguably the most significant theologian in Church history, Augustine is nonetheless a figure of dispute in protestant circles, distrusted for his views on ecclesiology, amongst other subjects. Yet his love for the Lord and articulation of the doctrine of grace ensure that his writings remain relevant and inspiring to many Christians today. For anyone looking to begin to understand this theological giant, Bradley Green’s biography offers a clear insight into Augustine’s life and beliefs. In the words of the patristic himself, ‘Take and Read’.
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 6, 2020
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43 people want to read
About the author
Bradley G. Green
11 books5 followersDr. Green (PhD, Baylor University) is Professor of Theological Studies at Union University. He has contributed essays and reviews to International Journal of Systematic Theology, Chronicles, First Things, Touchstone, and The Churchman.
Dr. Green serves on the Board of Directors at Augustine School, and serves on the Board of Directors of American Friends of Tyndale House Cambridge. He is also Senior Contributor for The Imaginative Conservative, and has served as Writer-In-Residence at Tyndale House Cambridge.
Dr. Green serves on the Board of Directors at Augustine School, and serves on the Board of Directors of American Friends of Tyndale House Cambridge. He is also Senior Contributor for The Imaginative Conservative, and has served as Writer-In-Residence at Tyndale House Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 22, 2023
Good intro to Augustine's life, as well as his theology and philosophy. The book was more academic than I thought it would be, meaning that some difficult concepts were brought forth along with lengthy footnotes at times. But for someone seriously interested in Augustine, this would not be a bad place to start.
September 24, 2025
Solid, simple, concise. A clear introduction to Augustine with some evaluation in a Protestant key. Written at an introductory level for the average believer.
May 31, 2022
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO ABOUT?
This is a mini-biography of Augustine and an overview of his more significant writing and teaching.
As a biography, the emphasis is on Augustine's early life up through being made a priest—and it tends to gloss over everything else. It was interesting—even if a lot of it was common knowledge (if it can be said that anything about a Church Father is common knowledge).
Then it moves into an overview of some of Augustine's teachings and the controversies he was involved in—the Pelagian controversy and his struggles against the Donatists in particular.
STRENGTHS
I thought the material on the nature of God and The Trinity was very helpful. The section on the Donatists was great—and not just because that's something I've been meaning to read about for a dozen years.
The chapter "Augustine and the Protestant," was a great addition to this book. Green's honest about the differences between Augustine and those who'd claim to follow him during and after the Reformation. But he's also good at pointing out where Augustine would have common ground with us, and it's good to see how Protestant thought developed Augustine.
THE SERIES
I literally stumbled on to this series, The Early Church Fathers, a few weeks ago and thought it sounded like a great idea. It looked kind of like a mix of Crossway's Theologians on the Christian Life and Oxford's Very Short Introductions (incidentally, that's what it ended up being).
I picked this one to start with because while I'm no Augustine expert at all, I'm familiar enough with him—his life and writing—to have a rough idea about how to evaluate the book. If I'd picked Basil or Patrick, there's be more guesswork involved.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO?
On those terms, the book was a success. I really thought this was great—I really liked both the look at his life and his writings. Green provided an overview of Augustine and his thought that covers all the basics, and while it may not get into the weeds on everything—he at least points out where some of the weeds are.
You can't be thorough in 200 pages when it comes to someone like Augustine (it can't be done when it comes to most people—and most people aren't Augustine) and Green doesn't even pretend to try. This is about the essentials. This is about beginning to understand.
Yes, Roman Catholics are going to have some problems with what he says about Augustine. But I think he made a good-faith effort to not just get Augustine on his side (as he says a couple of times).
This is an easy read, but still thoughtful. It'll also make the reader want to read more about Augustine* and maybe take Green's advice on where to start reading the man himself.
* Like maybe the entry on Augustine in the aforementioned Crossway series.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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At the end of the day, we stand on the shoulders of giants. One of the giants of giants is undoubtedly Augustine. Protestants and Catholics will continue to read him and mine his works, which is as it should be. He built the edifice of Western theology, and one simply cannot grasp the nature and contour of Western theology without going through Augustine.
WHAT'S AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO ABOUT?
This is a mini-biography of Augustine and an overview of his more significant writing and teaching.
As a biography, the emphasis is on Augustine's early life up through being made a priest—and it tends to gloss over everything else. It was interesting—even if a lot of it was common knowledge (if it can be said that anything about a Church Father is common knowledge).
Then it moves into an overview of some of Augustine's teachings and the controversies he was involved in—the Pelagian controversy and his struggles against the Donatists in particular.
STRENGTHS
I thought the material on the nature of God and The Trinity was very helpful. The section on the Donatists was great—and not just because that's something I've been meaning to read about for a dozen years.
The chapter "Augustine and the Protestant," was a great addition to this book. Green's honest about the differences between Augustine and those who'd claim to follow him during and after the Reformation. But he's also good at pointing out where Augustine would have common ground with us, and it's good to see how Protestant thought developed Augustine.
THE SERIES
I literally stumbled on to this series, The Early Church Fathers, a few weeks ago and thought it sounded like a great idea. It looked kind of like a mix of Crossway's Theologians on the Christian Life and Oxford's Very Short Introductions (incidentally, that's what it ended up being).
I picked this one to start with because while I'm no Augustine expert at all, I'm familiar enough with him—his life and writing—to have a rough idea about how to evaluate the book. If I'd picked Basil or Patrick, there's be more guesswork involved.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO?
First, as I began to lay out my writing and reading agenda, and to think through how to structure the book, one thought kept pressing itself upon me: I want to write a book that I would hand to someone who asked: ‘What would you recommend to me if I wanted to begin to understand Augustine?’ Life is too short for ‘just another book’ on Augustine. So, I hope you find that this is a book about which you can say: ‘It gave me a good overview of who Augustine was and what he thought.’ Second, this book is written by someone committed to the theological perspective of the Protestant Reformation. Rather than be coy or even duplicitous, it is best to be straightforward on this point.
On those terms, the book was a success. I really thought this was great—I really liked both the look at his life and his writings. Green provided an overview of Augustine and his thought that covers all the basics, and while it may not get into the weeds on everything—he at least points out where some of the weeds are.
You can't be thorough in 200 pages when it comes to someone like Augustine (it can't be done when it comes to most people—and most people aren't Augustine) and Green doesn't even pretend to try. This is about the essentials. This is about beginning to understand.
Yes, Roman Catholics are going to have some problems with what he says about Augustine. But I think he made a good-faith effort to not just get Augustine on his side (as he says a couple of times).
This is an easy read, but still thoughtful. It'll also make the reader want to read more about Augustine* and maybe take Green's advice on where to start reading the man himself.
* Like maybe the entry on Augustine in the aforementioned Crossway series.
February 5, 2025
I am really loving this new series of 'biographies' of the early church fathers put out by Christian Focus Publications. Last year I read about Cyril of Athanasius. That was excellent. So is this one on Augustine.
A few years ago I read Confessions. But this narrative about Augustine and synopsis of his writings is so helpful. I am probably not about to read all 900 pages of the City of God any time soon, so this precis of that and his other writings is super helpful to me.
And even if you have read Confessions, it is thrilling to read again the account of Augustine's conversion. Reminds me of C.S. Lewis' description of being a most reluctant convert.
Green writes clearly and succinctly, with just the right amount of opinion peppered throughout the book.
Augustine said, "God can be thought about more truly than He can be talked about, and He is more truly than He can be thought about".
And this, "For the effectiveness of God's mercy cannot be in the power of man to frustrate, if he will have none of it. If God wills to have mercy on men he can call them in a way that is suited to them so that they will be moved to understand and follow." And, "He calls the man on whom he will have mercy in the way he knows will suit him, so that he will not refuse the call."
A few years ago I read Confessions. But this narrative about Augustine and synopsis of his writings is so helpful. I am probably not about to read all 900 pages of the City of God any time soon, so this precis of that and his other writings is super helpful to me.
And even if you have read Confessions, it is thrilling to read again the account of Augustine's conversion. Reminds me of C.S. Lewis' description of being a most reluctant convert.
Green writes clearly and succinctly, with just the right amount of opinion peppered throughout the book.
Augustine said, "God can be thought about more truly than He can be talked about, and He is more truly than He can be thought about".
And this, "For the effectiveness of God's mercy cannot be in the power of man to frustrate, if he will have none of it. If God wills to have mercy on men he can call them in a way that is suited to them so that they will be moved to understand and follow." And, "He calls the man on whom he will have mercy in the way he knows will suit him, so that he will not refuse the call."
November 21, 2022
This is a smart introduction about St. Augustine, his life, his context and his thought. At the end, the author encourages the reader to put his book down and take up and read Augustine himself. After finishing The City of God, I picked up this volume to help me broaden my knowledge about his theology and philosophical outlook.
As a hardened Protestant of the Reformed variety, I was particularly drawn to the challenge laid out on page 188 about exploring the relationship of Augustine to Calvin to Pascal. Calvin drew heavily upon Augustine in his Institutes. The author also piqued my interest in Augustine's epistemology and view of language. There seems to be a line from Augustine to someone like Michael Polanyi. These are themes this book has encouraged me to consider and ponder.
The book was organized, lucid and insightful. I learned things about Augustine's personal life I did not know before.
As a hardened Protestant of the Reformed variety, I was particularly drawn to the challenge laid out on page 188 about exploring the relationship of Augustine to Calvin to Pascal. Calvin drew heavily upon Augustine in his Institutes. The author also piqued my interest in Augustine's epistemology and view of language. There seems to be a line from Augustine to someone like Michael Polanyi. These are themes this book has encouraged me to consider and ponder.
The book was organized, lucid and insightful. I learned things about Augustine's personal life I did not know before.
May 11, 2020
An excellent introduction to (as the title suggests) St. Augustine of Hippo's life and impact. I would love to read a Catholic take on some of Dr. Green's readings/interpretations of Augustine. With that said, I learned a lot, got a good ten thousand foot overview of Augustine, and feel very excited to take a class with Dr. Green in a week to learn more about this early church father.
December 30, 2024
Great introduction to and engagement with the life and writings of Augustine. Well written and informative!
December 20, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It is a relatively simple (but not simplistic) introduction to Augustine's theology from a Protestant perspective. Protestant readers may especially appreciate the introduction to Augustine's theology of grace. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews