On the Spirit and the Letter

Augustine of Hippo, On the Spirit and the Letter. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 5 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.

Passages · 67

On the Spirit and the Letter Extract from Augustin’s Retractations — Extract from Augustin’s Retractations. Book II. Chap. 37, On the Following Treatise, “De spiritu et littera.” The person to whom I had addressed the three books entitled De Peccatorum Meritis et Remissione, in which…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 1 — The Occasion of Writing This Work; A Thing May Be Capable of Being Done, and Yet May Never Be Done. Chapter 1 [I.] —The Occasion of Writing This Work; A Thing May Be Capable of Being Done, and Yet May Never Be Done.…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 2 — The Examples Apposite. Here, perhaps, you will say to me in answer, that the things which I have instanced as not having been realized, although capable of realization, are divine works; whereas a man’s being without…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 3 — Theirs is Comparatively a Harmless Error, Who Say that a Man Lives Here Without Sin. Chapter 3.—Theirs is Comparatively a Harmless Error, Who Say that a Man Lives Here Without Sin. They therefore are not a very…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 4 — Theirs is a Much More Serious Error, Requiring a Very Vigorous Refutation, Who Deny God’s Grace to Be Necessary. Chapter 4.—Theirs is a Much More Serious Error, Requiring a Very Vigorous Refutation, Who Deny God’s…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 5 — True Grace is the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Which Kindles in the Soul the Joy and Love of Goodness. Chapter 5 [III.]—True Grace is the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Which Kindles in the Soul the Joy and Love of Goodness. We,…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 6 — The Teaching of Law Without the Life-Giving Spirit is 'The Letter that Killeth.'. Chapter 6 [IV.]—The Teaching of Law Without the Life-Giving Spirit is “The Letter that Killeth.” For that teaching which brings to us…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 7 — What is Proposed to Be Here Treated. Chapter 7 [V.]—What is Proposed to Be Here Treated. We will, however, consider, if you please, the whole of this passage of the apostle and thoroughly handle it, as the Lord shall…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 8 — Romans Interprets Corinthians. Attend, then, carefully, to the apostle while in his Epistle to the Romans he explains and clearly enough shows that what he wrote to the Corinthians, “The letter killeth, but the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 9 — Through the Law Sin Has Abounded. Chapter 9 [VI].—Through the Law Sin Has Abounded. The apostle, then, wishing to commend the grace which has come to all nations through Jesus Christ, lest the Jews should extol…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 10 — Christ the True Healer. Accordingly, the apostle shows that the same medicine was mystically set forth in the passion and resurrection of Christ, when he says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 11 — From What Fountain Good Works Flow. This holy meditation preserves “the children of men, who put their trust under the shadow of God’s wings,” so that they are “drunken with the fatness of His house, and drink of the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 12 — Paul, Whence So Called; Bravely Contends for Grace. Accordingly Paul, who, although he was formerly called Saul, chose this new designation, for no other reason, as it seems to me, than because he would show himself…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 13 — Keeping the Law; The Jews’ Glorying; The Fear of Punishment; The Circumcision of the Heart. Chapter 13 [VIII.]—Keeping the Law; The Jews’ Glorying; The Fear of Punishment; The Circumcision of the Heart. Then comes…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 14 — In What Respect the Pelagians Acknowledge God as the Author of Our Justification. Chapter 14.—In What Respect the Pelagians Acknowledge God as the Author of Our Justification. “But,” say they, “we do praise God as…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 15 — The Righteousness of God Manifested by the Law and the Prophets. Here, perhaps, it may be said by that presumption of man, which is ignorant of the righteousness of God, and wishes to establish one of its own, that…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 16 — How the Law Was Not Made for a Righteous Man. Because “for a righteous man the law was not made;” and yet “the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.” Now by connecting together these two seemingly contrary…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 17 — The Exclusion of Boasting. Accordingly he says, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.” He may either mean, the laudable boasting, which is in the Lord; and that…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 18 — Piety is Wisdom; That is Called the Righteousness of God, Which He Produces. Chapter 18 [XI.]—Piety is Wisdom; That is Called the Righteousness of God, Which He Produces. Now, this meditation makes a man godly, and…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 19 — The Knowledge of God Through the Creation. And then the apostle very properly turns from this point to describe with detestation those men who, light-minded and puffed up by the sin which I have mentioned in the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 20 — The Law Without Grace. Now why need I speak of what follows? For why it was that by this their impiety those men—I mean those who could have known the Creator through the creature—fell (since “God resisteth the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 21 — The Law of Works and the Law of Faith. Chapter 21 [XIII.]—The Law of Works and the Law of Faith. The law, then, of deeds, that is, the law of works, whereby this boasting is not excluded, and the law of faith, by…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 22 — No Man Justified by Works. What the difference between them is, I will briefly explain. What the law of works enjoins by menace, that the law of faith secures by faith. The one says, “Thou shalt not covet;” the other…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 23 — How the Decalogue Kills, If Grace Be Not Present. Although, therefore, the apostle seems to reprove and correct those who were being persuaded to be circumcised, in such terms as to designate by the word “law”…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 24 — The Passage in Corinthians. In the passage where he speaks to the Corinthians about the letter that kills, and the spirit that gives life, he expresses himself more clearly, but he does not mean even there any other…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 25 — The Passage in Romans. Now carefully consider this entire passage, and see whether it says anything about circumcision, or the Sabbath, or anything else pertaining to a foreshadowing sacrament. Does not its whole…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 26 — No Fruit Good Except It Grow from the Root of Love. It is evident, then, that the oldness of the letter, in the absence of the newness of the spirit, instead of freeing us from sin, rather makes us guilty by the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 27 — Grace, Concealed in the Old Testament, is Revealed in the New. This grace hid itself under a veil in the Old Testament, but it has been revealed in the New Testament according to the most perfectly ordered…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 28 — Why the Holy Ghost is Called the Finger of God. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Now this Spirit of God, by whose gift we are justified, whence it comes to pass…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 29 — A Comparison of the Law of Moses and of the New Law. Chapter 29 [XVII.]—A Comparison of the Law of Moses and of the New Law. Now, amidst this admirable correspondence, there is at least this very considerable…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 30 — The New Law Written Within. Now, observe how consonant this diversity is with those words of the apostle which I quoted not long ago in another connection, and which I postponed for a more careful consideration…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 31 — The Old Law Ministers Death; The New, Righteousness. Now, since, as he says in another passage, “the law was added because of transgression,” meaning the law which is written externally to man, he therefore…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 32 — The Christian Faith Touching the Assistance of Grace. Let no Christian then stray from this faith, which alone is the Christian one; nor let any one, when he has been made to feel ashamed to say that we become…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 33 — The Prophecy of Jeremiah Concerning the New Testament. Observe this also in that testimony which was given by the prophet on this subject in the clearest way: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 34 — The Law; Grace. After saying, “Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt,” observe what He adds: “Because they…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 35 — The Old Law; The New Law. Chapter 35 [XX.]—The Old Law; The New Law. The one was therefore old, because the other is new. But whence comes it that one is old and the other new, when the same law, which said in the…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 36 — The Law Written in Our Hearts. Chapter 36 [XXI.]—The Law Written in Our Hearts. What then is God’s law written by God Himself in the hearts of men, but the very presence of the Holy Spirit, who is “the finger of…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 37 — The Eternal Reward. Chapter 37 [XXII.]—The Eternal Reward. He then went on to state the reward: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This corresponds to the Psalmist’s words to God: “It is good for me…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 38 — The Re-Formation Which is Now Being Effected, Compared with the Perfection of the Life to Come. Chapter 38 [XXIII.]—The Re-Formation Which is Now Being Effected, Compared with the Perfection of the Life to Come. But…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 39 — The Eternal Reward Which is Specially Declared in the New Testament, Foretold by the Prophet. Chapter 39 [XXIV]—The Eternal Reward Which is Specially Declared in the New Testament, Foretold by the Prophet.…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 40 — How that is to Be the Reward of All; The Apostle Earnestly Defends Grace. What then is the import of the “All, from the least unto the greatest of them,” but all that belong spiritually to the house of Israel and to…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 41 — Chapter 41.—The Law Written in the Heart, and the Reward of the Eternal Contemplation of God, Belong to the New Covenant; Who Among the Saints are the Least and the Greatest. As then the law of works, which was…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 42 — Difference Between the Old and the New Testaments. I beg of you, however, carefully to observe, as far as you can, what I am endeavouring to prove with so much effort. When the prophet promised a new covenant, not…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 43 — Chapter 43 [XXVI.]—A Question Touching the Passage in the Apostle About the Gentiles Who are Said to Do by Nature the Law’s Commands, Which They are Also Said to Have Written on Their Hearts. Now we must see in what…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 44 — The Answer Is, that the Passage Must Be Understood of the Faithful of the New Covenant. Chapter 44.—The Answer Is, that the Passage Must Be Understood of the Faithful of the New Covenant. Has the apostle perhaps…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 45 — It is Not by Their Works, But by Grace, that the Doers of the Law are Justified; God’s Saints and God’s Name Hallowed in Different Senses. Chapter 45.—It is Not by Their Works, But by Grace, that the Doers of the Law…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 46 — How the Passage of the Law Agrees with that of the Prophet. If therefore the apostle, when he mentioned that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law, and have the work of the law written in their…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 47 — The Law ‘Being Done by Nature’ Means, Done by Nature as Restored by Grace. Chapter 47 [XXVII.]—The Law “Being Done by Nature” Means, Done by Nature as Restored by Grace. Nor ought it to disturb us that the apostle…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 48 — The Image of God is Not Wholly Blotted Out in These Unbelievers; Venial Sins. According to some, however, they who do by nature the things contained in the law must not be regarded as yet in the number of those whom…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 49 — The Grace Promised by the Prophet for the New Covenant. What then could the apostle have meant to imply by,—after checking the boasting of the Jews, by telling them that “not the hearers of the law are just before…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 50 — Righteousness is the Gift of God. Chapter 50 [XXIX.]—Righteousness is the Gift of God. Let no man therefore boast of that which he seems to possess, as if he had not received it; nor let him think that he has…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 51 — Faith the Ground of All Righteousness. The righteousness of the law is proposed in these terms,—that whosoever shall do it shall live in it; and the purpose is, that when each has discovered his own weakness, he may…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 52 — Grace Establishes Free Will. Do we then by grace make void free will? God forbid! Nay, rather we establish free will. For even as the law by faith, so free will by grace, is not made void, but established. For…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 53 — Volition and Ability. Chapter 53 [XXXI.]—Volition and Ability. Some one will ask whether the faith itself, in which seems to be the beginning either of salvation, or of that series leading to salvation which I have…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 54 — Whether Faith Be in a Man’s Own Power. Attend now to the point which we have laid down for discussion: whether faith is in our own power? We now speak of that faith which we employ when we believe anything, not that…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 55 — What Faith is Laudable. Since faith, then, is in our power, inasmuch as every one believes when he likes, and, when he believes, believes voluntarily; our next inquiry, which we must conduct with care, is, What faith…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 56 — The Faith of Those Who are Under the Law Different from the Faith of Others. But there is yet another distinction to be observed,—since they who are under the law both attempt to work their own righteousness through…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 57 — Whence Comes the Will to Believe?. Chapter 57 [XXXIII.]—Whence Comes the Will to Believe? But it remains for us briefly to inquire, Whether the will by which we believe be itself the gift of God, or whether it arise…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 58 — The Free Will of Man is an Intermediate Power. Let us then, first of all, lay down this proposition, and see whether it satisfies the question before us: that free will, naturally assigned by the Creator to our…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 59 — Mercy and Pity in the Judgment of God. This is the order observed in the psalm, where it is said: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His recompenses; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 60 — The Will to Believe is from God. Chapter 60 [XXXIV.]—The Will to Believe is from God. Let this discussion suffice, if it satisfactorily meets the question we had to solve. It may be, however, objected in reply, that…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 61 — Conclusion of the Work. Chapter 61 [XXXV.]—Conclusion of the Work. Let us at last bring our book to an end. I hardly know whether we have accomplished our purpose at all by our great prolixity. It is not in respect…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 62 — He Returns to the Question Which Marcellinus Had Proposed to Him. But I beg of you to advert to the question which you proposed to me, and to what we have made out of it in the lengthy process of this discussion. You…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 63 — An Objection. But inasmuch as it may be said that the instances which I have been quoting are divine works, whereas to live righteously is a work that belongs to ourselves, I undertook to show that even this too is a…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 64 — When the Commandment to Love is Fulfilled. Chapter 64 [XXXVI.]—When the Commandment to Love is Fulfilled. But somebody will perhaps think that we lack nothing for the knowledge of righteousness, since the Lord, when…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 65 — In What Sense a Sinless Righteousness in This Life Can Be Asserted. Forasmuch, however, as an inferior righteousness may be said to be competent to this life, whereby the just man lives by faith although absent from…vatican.va
On the Spirit and the Letter Chapter 66 — Although Perfect Righteousness Be Not Found Here on Earth, It is Still Not Impossible. Chapter 66.—Although Perfect Righteousness Be Not Found Here on Earth, It is Still Not Impossible. But let objectors find, if…vatican.va

Scripture cited · 366 verses

Genesis 1:27 · Genesis 15:6 · Genesis 22:18 · Exodus 12:3 · Exodus 19:12 · Exodus 19:16 · Exodus 20:13 · Exodus 20:14 · Exodus 20:17 · Exodus 31:18 · Deuteronomy 6:5 · Deuteronomy 31:3 · Judges 2:3 · 1 Samuel 24:7 · 1 Samuel 26:9 · 1 Kings 8:46 · Job 28:28 · Psalm 3:2 · Psalm 3:3 · Psalm 3:4 · Psalm 3:5 · Psalm 3:8 · Psalm 4:6 · Psalm 12:6 · Psalm 19:7 · Psalm 22:23 · Psalm 22:25 · Psalm 27:4 · Psalm 30:2 · Psalm 31:19 · Psalm 32:2 · Psalm 34:2 · Psalm 36:7 · Psalm 36:8 · Psalm 36:9 · Psalm 36:10 · Psalm 36:11 · Psalm 36:12 · Psalm 41:4 · Psalm 43:2 · Psalm 54:6 · Psalm 62:11 · Psalm 62:12 · Psalm 68:18 · Psalm 68:30 · Psalm 73:28 · Proverbs 3:16 · Ecclesiastes 1:18 · Wisdom 8:21 · Sirach 7:21 · Sirach 18:30 · Isaiah 26:10 · Isaiah 53:7 · Jeremiah 31:31 · Jeremiah 31:32 · Jeremiah 31:33 · Jeremiah 31:34 · Jeremiah 32:32 · Joel 2:32 · Matthew 5:6 · Matthew 5:7 · Matthew 5:17 · Matthew 6:9 · Matthew 6:12 · Matthew 7:7 · Matthew 7:11 · Matthew 17:20 · Matthew 19:24 · Matthew 19:26 · Matthew 20:8 · Matthew 21:21 · Matthew 22:37 · Matthew 22:39 · Matthew 22:40 · Matthew 23:15 · Matthew 25:35 · Matthew 25:46 · Matthew 26:53 · Matthew 27:51 · Mark 7:9 · Mark 10:27 · Mark 11:23 · Luke 1:37 · Luke 6:30 · Luke 6:38 · Luke 8:18 · Luke 10:12 · Luke 10:29 · Luke 11:4 · Luke 11:20 · Luke 17:6 · Luke 18:11 · Luke 18:12 · Luke 19:26 · John 1:1 · John 1:9 · John 1:12 · John 1:14 · John 1:16 · John 1:47 · John 5:14 · John 5:35 · John 6:51 · John 8:36 · John 14:8 · John 14:9 · John 14:21 · John 15:5 · John 15:13 · John 17:3 · John 19:11 · Acts 2:1 · Acts 2:2 · Acts 2:3 · Acts 2:4 · Acts 2:5 · Acts 2:6 · Acts 2:7 · Acts 2:8 · Acts 2:9 · Acts 2:10 · Acts 2:11 · Acts 2:12 · Acts 2:13 · Acts 2:14 · Acts 2:15 · Acts 2:16 · Acts 2:17 · Acts 2:18 · Acts 2:19 · Acts 2:20 · Acts 2:21 · Acts 2:22 · Acts 2:23 · Acts 2:24 · Acts 2:25 · Acts 2:26 · Acts 2:27 · Acts 2:28 · Acts 2:29 · Acts 2:30 · Acts 2:31 · Acts 2:32 · Acts 2:33 · Acts 2:34 · Acts 2:35 · Acts 2:36 · Acts 2:37 · Acts 2:38 · Acts 2:39 · Acts 2:40 · Acts 13:9 · Romans 1:7 · Romans 1:14 · Romans 1:15 · Romans 1:16 · Romans 1:17 · Romans 1:18 · Romans 1:19 · Romans 1:20 · and 206 more

On the Spirit and the Letter

Passages · 67

Scripture cited · 366 verses

Around this entry

Fathers and saints · 48