Early Church · 428

On the Predestination of the Saints

Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Addressed to Prosper and Hilary, who had reported that monks in southern Gaul accepted the need for grace but held that the first movement of faith comes from the unaided human will. Augustine replies that faith itself is a gift, and that God's choice of those who will believe precedes and produces their believing. Written near the end of his life, it traces predestination to the free mercy of God and grounds the believer's assurance in election rather than in human initiative.

1.5 hrs total · 43 chapters