By Michael A.G. Haykin
When I have lectured on Augustine’s seminal work, The City of God, I have often mentioned a reading plan I have for the work. Here it is below. The number prior to the full stop refers to the book (there are twenty-two books in The City of God), and the numbers after the full stop refer to the chapters within the respective books.
1.1–36: why Augustine wrote The City of God
4.1–4: the nature of kingdoms without justice
11.1–4: the origin of the two cities, the city of God and the city of man
12.4–9: the origin of evil
13.1–24: man’s fall and sinfulness
14.1–28: the two cities
15.1–2: the two cities at the beginning of time
20.1–30: the end of the two cities
21.1–2: the eternality of the punishment of the wicked
22.8–9: an excursus on miracles
22.29–30: the beatific vision
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Michael A.G. Haykin is the director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies. He also serves as Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Haykin and his wife Alison have two grown children, Victoria and Nigel.