Augustine’s Letters and Theological Writings: A Translation for the 21st Century (9 vols.)

by Augustine of Hippo; Roland J. Teske; Edmund Hill; John E. Rotelle

Publisher:

New City Press

, 1996–2017

Overview

New City Press is proud to offer the best modern translations available of Saint Augustine. Augustine’s writings are useful to anyone interested in patristics, church history, theology, and Western civilization.

In 1990, New City Press, in conjunction with the Augustinian Heritage Institute, began the project known as The Works of Saint Augustine, A Translation for the 21st Century. The plan is to translate and publish all 132 works of Saint Augustine, his entire corpus, into modern English. This represents the first time in which the works of Saint Augustine will all be translated into English. Many existing translations were often archaic or faulty, and the scholarship was outdated. The Works of Saint Augustine, A Translation for the 21st Century will be translated into 49 published books. To date, 43 books have been published by NCP containing 93 of his works. The complete Works of Saint Augustine will total 132 works in 49 volumes.

Key Features

• Provides modern translations of classic works
• Includes extensive notes from editors and translators
• Addresses relevant controversies and questions

Praise for the Print Edition

Augustine was surely larger than life and this translation matches him.

—Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

New City Press and the Augustinian Heritage Institute have undertaken a monumental and immensely valuable project.... I am already grateful that I can recommend the excellent edition of The Trinity to my students with its detailed introduction, extensive critical notes, scriptural and general indexes and above all, its fine translation.... It supersedes all other English editions in every respect....

—Dr. Carol Harrison, University of Durham, England

Product Details

• Title: The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century
• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Volumes: 9
• Pages: 3,412

Letters 1–4

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editor: Boniface Ramsey
• Translator: Roland J. Teske, SJ
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 1,654

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The letters of Saint Augustine are an invaluable source of information in the areas of church history, liturgy, spirituality, theology, civil history, etc.

The correspondence of Augustine includes 308 letters: 252 that he wrote himself, 49 that others sent him, and 7 letters that others sent to a third party (29 additional letters were added by Professor Divjak in 1981). Some can actually be classified as books as Augustine notes in his Revisions. Each letter is preceded by its own introduction in which the translator offers valuable information about the persons, content, and background pertinent to the letter.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the letters is not so much the great variety of themes and persons, but the personality of Augustine himself that emerges.

The reader comes to know a very human and affectionate Augustine, especially in his writings to Nebridius and other friends. We see Augustine the reconciler, the man of justice and mercy, the healer. While he is steadfast in his many ideas and opinions, he also shows flexibility and a penchant for listening. Certainly, from these letters the reader will learn much about history and church history of that era and will gain insights into church teaching, law, and liturgy. Without a doubt one will encounter and be fascinated by the multifaceted Augustine.

Marriage and Virginity

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editors: Boniface Ramsey
• Translator: Ray Kearney
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 251

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This volume presents new translations of five of Augustine’s works: The Excellence of Marriage, Holy Virginity, The Excellence of Widowhood, Adulterous Marriages, and Continence. These works discuss marriage, sexuality, procreation, and virginity (or celibacy) and their place in Christian life and salvation.

As is often the case, the specific content and direction of these works is guided by Augustine’s desire to address and correct what he saw as errors propagated among Christians at the time. Some of these errors promoted marriage over celibacy; while others insisted celibacy is the superior path to holiness. Overall, Augustine strove to highlight the goods of both states of life, and to emphasize that while celibacy might be the “greater good,” practicing it does not automatically make one a better person or Christian than someone who is married.

Augustine’s opinions and beliefs on these subjects changed over the years before, during, and after his conversion. Presenting his works in chronological order in this volume, therefore, allows the reader to follow the development of his thinking.

This volume presents new translations of five of Augustine’s works: The Excellence of Marriage, Holy Virginity, The Excellence of Widowhood, Adulterous Marriages, and Continence.... The volume is to be commended on several points. The translation itself is in eminently readable, clear English that should be accessible to anyone interested in Augustine.... The general introduction does an excellent job of placing these works in the context of Augustine’s career, showing how Augustine reacts to controversies with the Manichees, Jovinian, Jerome, and the Pelagians, while maintaining a commitment to the threefold goods of marriage procreation, fidelity, and sacrament. This is a wonderful collection that allows readers to see the complexity of Augustine’s thought on a difficult topic.

—Kim Paffenroth, Journal of Early Christian Studies

On Christian Belief

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editor: Boniface Ramsey
• Translator: Edmund Hill, OP, Ray Kearney, Michael G. Campbell, and Bruce Harbert
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 376

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The seven works of Saint Augustine in this volume all deal with the problem of faith in God. They were written over the course of about three decades, beginning with True Religion (390) and extending to The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Charity (c. 421). Therefore, this selection of writings provides an impressive insight into the intellectual and spiritual development of one of the greatest of all Western minds, as it grappled with a question that has never ceased to preoccupy and stimulate Western thought: Is it reasonable to believe in God, and what form might such belief take?

This volume presents new translations of True Religion, The Advantage of Believing, Faith and the Creed, Faith in the Unseen, Demonic Divination, Faith and Works, and The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Charity.

Revisions

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editor: Roland Teske, SJ
• Translator: Boniface Ramsey
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 227

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Revisions, like many of Augustine’s works, has a singular purpose. Composed in his old age, he reviews nearly all his writings, summarizing and correcting and even expressing regret. The Revisions is important not only for establishing the chronology of Augustine’s works but also for providing insight into his own thought and self-evaluation. The Latin title for this work is Retractationes and the Indiculum of Possidius is included in the Appendix.

Teaching Christianity

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editor: John E. Rotelle, OSA
• Translator: Edmund Hill, OP
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 272

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This work is intended to help preachers present biblical teachings in an effective manner.

De Doctrina Christiana is one of Augustine’s most important and abidingly influential works. Essentially it is an exegetical manual or outline for an encyclopedic educational program for understanding, teaching and preaching the scriptures.

—Catholic Library World

The Trinity

• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Editor: John E. Rotelle
• Translator: Edmund Hill, OP
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine
• Publisher: New City Press
• Pages: 632

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

In the first seven books Augustine searches the scriptures for clues to understanding the Trinity and then defends the orthodox statement of the doctrine against the Arians. In the last eight books Augustine seeks to understand the mystery of the divine Trinity by observing an analogous trinity in the image of God, which is the human mind; and in so doing, he also suggests a program for the serious Christian of spiritual self-discovery and renewal.

What Father Hill has provided is a splendid translation, made from a trustworthy Latin text, of what is for some of us the foundation work of Christian theology. He has fitted out his translation, clearly the best of the four that have been made into English, with notes that go well beyond the perfunctory and a 38-page introduction that is a delight to read.

—Barry Ulanov, Journal of Religion and Health

About Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the Western world. After he converted to Christianity he became bishop of Hippo in North Africa, where he was influential in civil and church affairs. His writings have had a lasting impact on Western philosophy and culture.