The City of God, Book IV

Book IV

• The City of God IV.1 — Of the Things Which Have Been Discussed in the First Book. Having begun to speak of the city of God, I have thought it necessary first of all to reply to its enemies, who, eagerly pursuing earthly joys and gaping…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.2 — Of Those Things Which are Contained in Books Second and Third. We had promised, then, that we would say something against those who attribute the calamities of the Roman republic to our religion, and that we would…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.3 — Chapter 3.—Whether the Great Extent of the Empire, Which Has Been Acquired Only by Wars, is to Be Reckoned Among the Good Things Either of the Wise or the Happy. Now, therefore, let us see how it is that they dare to…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.4 — How Like Kingdoms Without Justice are to Robberies. Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? The band itself is made up of men; it…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.5 — Of the Runaway Gladiators Whose Power Became Like that of Royal Dignity. I shall not therefore stay to inquire what sort of men Romulus gathered together, seeing he deliberated much about them,—how, being assumed out…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.6 — Concerning the Covetousness of Ninus, Who Was the First Who Made War on His Neighbors, that He Might Rule More Widely. Chapter 6.—Concerning the Covetousness of Ninus, Who Was the First Who Made War on His Neighbors,…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.7 — Whether Earthly Kingdoms in Their Rise and Fall Have Been Either Aided or Deserted by the Help of the Gods. Chapter 7.—Whether Earthly Kingdoms in Their Rise and Fall Have Been Either Aided or Deserted by the Help of…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.8 — Chapter 8.—Which of the Gods Can the Romans Suppose Presided Over the Increase and Preservation of Their Empire, When They Have Believed that Even the Care of Single Things Could Scarcely Be Committed to Single Gods.…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.9 — Whether the Great Extent and Long Duration of the Roman Empire Should Be Ascribed to Jove, Whom His Worshippers Believe to Be the Chief God. Chapter 9.—Whether the Great Extent and Long Duration of the Roman Empire…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.10 — What Opinions Those Have Followed Who Have Set Divers Gods Over Divers Parts of the World. Chapter 10.—What Opinions Those Have Followed Who Have Set Divers Gods Over Divers Parts of the World. Why, also, is Juno…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.11 — Concerning the Many Gods Whom the Pagan Doctors Defend as Being One and the Same Jove. Chapter 11.—Concerning the Many Gods Whom the Pagan Doctors Defend as Being One and the Same Jove. Let them therefore assert as…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.12 — Concerning the Opinion of Those Who Have Thought that God is the Soul of the World, and the World is the Body of God. Chapter 12.—Concerning the Opinion of Those Who Have Thought that God is the Soul of the World,…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.13 — Concerning Those Who Assert that Only Rational Animals are Parts of the One God. Chapter 13.—Concerning Those Who Assert that Only Rational Animals are Parts of the One God. But if they contend that only rational…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.14 — Chapter 14.—The Enlargement of Kingdoms is Unsuitably Ascribed to Jove; For If, as They Will Have It, Victoria is a Goddess, She Alone Would Suffice for This Business. Here, first of all, I ask, why even the kingdom…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.15 — Whether It is Suitable for Good Men to Wish to Rule More Widely. Let them ask, then, whether it is quite fitting for good men to rejoice in extended empire. For the iniquity of those with whom just wars are carried…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.16 — Chapter 16.—What Was the Reason Why the Romans, in Detailing Separate Gods for All Things and All Movements of the Mind, Chose to Have the Temple of Quiet Outside the Gates. But I wonder very much, that while they…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.17 — Whether, If the Highest Power Belongs to Jove, Victoria Also Ought to Be Worshipped. Chapter 17.—Whether, If the Highest Power Belongs to Jove, Victoria Also Ought to Be Worshipped. Or do they say, perhaps, that…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.18 — With What Reason They Who Think Felicity and Fortune Goddesses Have Distinguished Them. Chapter 18.—With What Reason They Who Think Felicity and Fortune Goddesses Have Distinguished Them. What shall we say, besides,…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.19 — Concerning Fortuna Muliebris. To this supposed deity, whom they call Fortuna, they ascribe so much, indeed, that they have a tradition that the image of her, which was dedicated by the Roman matrons, and called…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.20 — Chapter 20.—Concerning Virtue and Faith, Which the Pagans Have Honored with Temples and Sacred Rites, Passing by Other Good Qualities, Which Ought Likewise to Have Been Worshipped, If Deity Was Rightly Attributed to…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.21 — That Although Not Understanding Them to Be the Gifts of God, They Ought at Least to Have Been Content with Virtue and Felicity. Chapter 21.—That Although Not Understanding Them to Be the Gifts of God, They Ought at…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.22 — Concerning the Knowledge of the Worship Due to the Gods, Which Varro Glories in Having Himself Conferred on the Romans. Chapter 22.—Concerning the Knowledge of the Worship Due to the Gods, Which Varro Glories in…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.23 — Chapter 23.—Concerning Felicity, Whom the Romans, Who Venerate Many Gods, for a Long Time Did Not Worship with Divine Honor, Though She Alone Would Have Sufficed Instead of All. But how does it happen, if their books…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.24 — The Reasons by Which the Pagans Attempt to Defend Their Worshipping Among the Gods the Divine Gifts Themselves. Chapter 24.—The Reasons by Which the Pagans Attempt to Defend Their Worshipping Among the Gods the…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.25 — Concerning the One God Only to Be Worshipped, Who, Although His Name is Unknown, is Yet Deemed to Be the Giver of Felicity. Chapter 25.—Concerning the One God Only to Be Worshipped, Who, Although His Name is Unknown,…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.26 — Of the Scenic Plays, the Celebration of Which the Gods Have Exacted from Their Worshippers. Chapter 26.—Of the Scenic Plays, the Celebration of Which the Gods Have Exacted from Their Worshippers. “But,” says Cicero,…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.27 — Concerning the Three Kinds of Gods About Which the Pontiff Scævola Has Discoursed. Chapter 27.—Concerning the Three Kinds of Gods About Which the Pontiff Scævola Has Discoursed. It is recorded that the very learned…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.28 — Whether the Worship of the Gods Has Been of Service to the Romans in Obtaining and Extending the Empire. Chapter 28.—Whether the Worship of the Gods Has Been of Service to the Romans in Obtaining and Extending the…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.29 — Of the Falsity of the Augury by Which the Strength and Stability of the Roman Empire Was Considered to Be Indicated. Chapter 29.—Of the Falsity of the Augury by Which the Strength and Stability of the Roman Empire…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.30 — What Kind of Things Even Their Worshippers Have Owned They Have Thought About the Gods of the Nations. Chapter 30.—What Kind of Things Even Their Worshippers Have Owned They Have Thought About the Gods of the…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.31 — Chapter 31.—Concerning the Opinions of Varro, Who, While Reprobating the Popular Belief, Thought that Their Worship Should Be Confined to One God, Though He Was Unable to Discover the True God. What says Varro…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.32 — In What Interest the Princes of the Nations Wished False Religions to Continue Among the People Subject to Them. Chapter 32.—In What Interest the Princes of the Nations Wished False Religions to Continue Among the…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.33 — That the Times of All Kings and Kingdoms are Ordained by the Judgment and Power of the True God. Chapter 33.—That the Times of All Kings and Kingdoms are Ordained by the Judgment and Power of the True God. Therefore…vatican.va
• The City of God IV.34 — Chapter 34.—Concerning the Kingdom of the Jews, Which Was Founded by the One and True God, and Preserved by Him as Long as They Remained in the True Religion. Therefore, that it might be known that these earthly good…vatican.va