Harmony of the Gospels, Book I

Book I

• Harmony of the Gospels I.1 — On the Authority of the Gospels. 1. In the entire number of those divine records which are contained in the sacred writings, the gospel deservedly stands pre-eminent. For what the law and the prophets aforetime…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.2 — On the Order of the Evangelists, and the Principles on Which They Wrote. 3. Now, those four evangelists whose names have gained the most remarkable circulation over the whole world, and whose number has been fixed as…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.3 — Of the Fact that Matthew, Together with Mark, Had Specially in View the Kingly Character of Christ, Whereas Luke Dealt with the Priestly. Chapter III.—Of the Fact that Matthew, Together with Mark, Had Specially in…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.4 — Of the Fact that John Undertook the Exposition of Christ’s Divinity. 7. These three evangelists, however, were for the most part engaged with those things which Christ did through the vehicle of the flesh of man, and…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.5 — Concerning the Two Virtues, of Which John is Conversant with the Contemplative, the Other Evangelists with the Active. Chapter V.—Concerning the Two Virtues, of Which John is Conversant with the Contemplative, the…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.6 — Chapter VI.—Of the Four Living Creatures in the Apocalypse, Which Have Been Taken by Some in One Application, and by Others in Another, as Apt Figures of the Four Evangelists. 9. For these reasons, it also appears to…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.7 — Chapter VII.—A Statement of Augustin’s Reason for Undertaking This Work on the Harmony of the Evangelists, and an Example of the Method in Which He Meets Those Who Allege that Christ Wrote Nothing Himself, and that…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.8 — Chapter VIII.—Of the Question Why, If Christ is Believed to Have Been the Wisest of Men on the Testimony of Common Narrative Report, He Should Not Be Believed to Be God on the Testimony of the Superior Report of…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.9 — Of Certain Persons Who Pretend that Christ Wrote Books on the Arts of Magic. 14. But, indeed, these persons rise to such a pitch of folly as to allege that the books which they consider to have been written by Him…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.10 — Of Some Who are Mad Enough to Suppose that the Books Were Inscribed with the Names of Peter and Paul. Chapter X.—Of Some Who are Mad Enough to Suppose that the Books Were Inscribed with the Names of Peter and Paul.…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.11 — In Opposition to Those Who Foolishly Imagine that Christ Converted the People to Himself by Magical Arts. Chapter XI.—In Opposition to Those Who Foolishly Imagine that Christ Converted the People to Himself by…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.12 — Chapter XII.—Of the Fact that the God of the Jews, After the Subjugation of that People, Was Still Not Accepted by the Romans, Because His Commandment Was that He Alone Should Be Worshipped, and Images Destroyed. 18.…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.13 — Of the Question Why God Suffered the Jews to Be Reduced to Subjection. 20. Hence also they cannot meet us fairly with this question: Why, then, did the God of the Hebrews, whom you declare to be the supreme and true…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.14 — Chapter XIV.—Of the Fact that the God of the Hebrews, Although the People Were Conquered, Proved Himself to Be Unconquered, by Overthrowing the Idols, and by Turning All the Gentiles to His Own Service. 21. Here…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.15 — Of the Fact that the Pagans, When Constrained to Laud Christ, Have Launched Their Insults Against His Disciples. Chapter XV.—Of the Fact that the Pagans, When Constrained to Laud Christ, Have Launched Their Insults…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.16 — Chapter XVI.—Of the Fact That, on the Subject of the Destruction of Idols, the Apostles Taught Nothing Different from What Was Taught by Christ or by the Prophets. 24. Nevertheless these persons argue still to the…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.17 — In Opposition to the Romans Who Rejected the God of Israel Alone. 25. However, here is a matter which should meet with more careful consideration at their hands,—namely, what they take the God of Israel to be, and…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.18 — Of the Fact that the God of the Hebrews is Not Received by the Romans, Because His Will is that He Alone Should Be Worshipped. Chapter XVIII.—Of the Fact that the God of the Hebrews is Not Received by the Romans,…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.19 — The Proof that This God is the True God. 27. But that must have been a vain necessity and a ridiculous timidity. We ask now what opinion regarding this God is formed by those men whose pleasure it is that all gods…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.20 — Of the Fact that Nothing is Discovered to Have Been Predicted by the Prophets of the Pagans in Opposition to the God of the Hebrews. Chapter XX.—Of the Fact that Nothing is Discovered to Have Been Predicted by the…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.21 — Chapter XXI.—An Argument for the Exclusive Worship of This God, Who, While He Prohibits Other Deities from Being Worshipped, is Not Himself Interdicted by Other Divinities from Being Worshipped. 29. Seeing, then,…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.22 — Of the Opinion Entertained by the Gentiles Regarding Our God. 30. But why do I interrogate men whose native wit has deserted them in answering the question as to who this God is? Some say that He is Saturn. I fancy…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.23 — Of the Follies Which the Pagans Have Indulged in Regarding Jupiter and Saturn. Chapter XXIII.—Of the Follies Which the Pagans Have Indulged in Regarding Jupiter and Saturn. 31. These narratives of yours, say they,…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.24 — Chapter XXIV.—Of the Fact that Those Persons Who Reject the God of Israel, in Consequence Fail to Worship All the Gods; And, on the Other Hand, that Those Who Worship Other Gods, Fail to Worship Him. 37. It is well…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.25 — Chapter XXV.—Of the Fact that the False Gods Do Not Forbid Others to Be Worshipped Along with Themselves. That the God of Israel is the True God, is Proved by His Works, Both in Prophecy and in Fulfilment. 38. But…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.26 — Of the Fact that Idolatry Has Been Subverted by the Name of Christ, and by the Faith of Christians According to the Prophecies. Chapter XXVI.—Of the Fact that Idolatry Has Been Subverted by the Name of Christ, and by…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.27 — Chapter XXVII.—An Argument Urging It Upon the Remnant of Idolaters that They Should at Length Become Servants of This True God, Who Everywhere is Subverting Idols. 42. Let them now give their answer with respect to…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.28 — Of the Predicted Rejection of Idols. 43. It cannot be questioned that what was predicted at sundry times by His prophets is now being realized,—namely, the announcement that He would disclaim His impious people (not,…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.29 — Chapter XXIX.—Of the Question Why the Heathen Should Refuse to Worship the God of Israel; Even Although They Deem Him to Be Only the Presiding Divinity of the Elements? 45. What do they say of this God of Sabaoth,…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.30 — Of the Fact That, as the Prophecies Have Been Fulfilled, the God of Israel Has Now Been Made Known Everywhere. Chapter XXX.—Of the Fact That, as the Prophecies Have Been Fulfilled, the God of Israel Has Now Been Made…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.31 — The Fulfilment of the Prophecies Concerning Christ. 47. Wherefore let those evil applauders of Christ, who refuse to become Christians, desist from making the allegation that Christ did not teach that their gods were…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.32 — A Statement in Vindication of the Doctrine of the Apostles as Opposed to Idolatry, in the Words of the Prophecies. Chapter XXXII.—A Statement in Vindication of the Doctrine of the Apostles as Opposed to Idolatry, in…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.33 — A Statement in Opposition to Those Who Make the Complaint that the Bliss of Human Life Has Been Impaired by the Entrance of Christian Times. Chapter XXXIII.—A Statement in Opposition to Those Who Make the Complaint…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.34 — Epilogue to the Preceding. 52. Much more might I say on this subject, were it not that the requirements of the task which I have undertaken compel me to conclude this book, and revert to the object originally…vatican.va
• Harmony of the Gospels I.35 — Chapter XXXV.—Of the Fact that the Mystery of a Mediator Was Made Known to Those Who Lived in Ancient Times by the Agency of Prophecy, as It is Now Declared to Us in the Gospel. 53. Wherefore, seeing that Christ…vatican.va