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Augustine of Hippo

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 7,530 passages across 62 books

Commentary

7,241–7,260 of 7,530
Romans 1:20

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Invisible things are seen in a special and appropriate way. When they are seen they are much more certain than the objects of the bodily sense, but they are said to be invisible because they cannot be seen by mortal eyes.
Romans 1:21 · 2 passages

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

If they had given thanks to God who gave this wisdom, they would not have claimed any credit for their own ideas. Therefore they were given over by the Lord to the desires of their own hearts, and did improper things.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 4

Surely that darkening of the heart was already a penalty and punishment, and by that penalty, that is by the blinding of the heart because of the abandonment by the light of wisdom, they fell into more and more serious sins.

ON NATURE AND GRACE 22.24

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

It is pride that turns man away from wisdom, and folly is the consequence of turning away from wisdom.

ON FREE WILL 24.72

Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Here the apostle has in mind the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, all boastful of their renown for wisdom.
Romans 1:24 · 3 passages

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Many are left to themselves, to their own hurt.… A man that has asked for great wealth may have received it to his own hurt. While he was without it he had little to fear; as soon as he has possession of it he has become a prey to the stronger.

HOMILIES ON 1 JOHN 6.8

When the evil will receives power to accomplish its purpose, this comes from the judgment of God, in whom there is no unrighteousness. His punishment is carried out in this way as well as in other ways. It is not less just merely because it is hidden. The wicked man only knows that he is being punished when some manifest penalty makes him feel, against his will, the evil of the sin which he committed willingly.

THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 54

This means that God abandoned them to the desires of their own hearts. For Paul says that they got what they deserved from God.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 5

Romans 1:25

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For by worshiping and serving the creature rather than the Creator they have not wished to be a temple of the one true God. By wishing to have him along with many other things, they have been more successful in not having him at all than in having him along with many false gods.
Romans 1:28

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Whoever follows the pernicious attractiveness of his lusts and tries to push aside those who would stop him heads straight into sin.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 6

Romans 1:32

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Whatever they had done they did without compulsion. For when they give their consent to evil deeds, they approve even of things which they did not do themselves.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 7-8

Romans 2:1

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Paul is speaking here of sins already committed. And when he says “O man, whoever you are,” he includes not only the Gentile but also the Jew who wanted to judge the Gentiles according to the law.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 7-8

Romans 2:3

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Is the fact that some persist in their wickedness any proof that God does not persist in his patience, punishing very few sins in this world, lest we fail to believe in his divine providence and, saving many for the last judgment, to justify his future decree?
Romans 2:5

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Whenever Paul talks about the wrath of God he understands it to mean punishment.

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 9

Romans 2:12 · 2 passages

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

The apostle did not mean to say that those who sin in ignorance will suffer worse punishment than those who know the law. It seems that it is worse to perish than to be judged. Rather the apostle here was merely distinguishing between Jews and Gentiles.

GRACE AND FREE WILL 2.5

It is generally agreed that judgment is the usual expression for eternal damnation.

FAITH AND WORKS 23.43

Romans 2:15

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Compare this with 1 John [3:20]: “Dearly beloved, if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our conscience.”

AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 10

Romans 2:17

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

If a Jew boasts in God in the manner called for by grace, which is given not according to the merits of works but freely, his praise would be of God and not of men.… But they thought that they had fulfilled this law of God by their own righteousness, even though they were transgressors of it. And so for them it worked wrath as sin multiplied, committed by those who knew what sin was. Those who did what the law commanded without the help of the Spirit of grace did it through fear of punishment and not out of love for righteousness.

THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 11.7

Romans 2:25

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

The apostle did not say this as if he favored forcing either the Gentiles to remain uncircumcised or the Jews not to adhere to the traditions of their fathers. Rather, he urged that neither group should be forced into the practice of the other but that each person should have the right, not the obligation, to adhere to his own custom.
Romans 2:26

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Gentiles become members of the house of Israel when their uncircumcision is counted for circumcision, inasmuch as they do not display the righteousness of the law by the cutting of the flesh but keep it in charity of heart.

THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 46

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