Pilgrim Library Christian Classics
Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love (Enchiridion)

Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love (Enchiridion)

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was a North African bishop and the most influential theologian of the early Western church. After a restless youth and years among the Manichaeans, he was converted at Milan in 386 and baptized by Ambrose. This entry covers the works our library lists under his name in short form: the Confessions, his handbook On Christian Doctrine, and the Enchiridion on faith, hope, and love.

Free

Free: get it — here or in the Christian Classics app — and it's yours to read and listen to on every device you sign in to. About a tenth of it can be read here first, free.

First published
421
Category
Theology
Length
31k words · about 2 hours
Chapters
33

About this book

Augustine's Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love, the Enchiridion, written near the end of his life for the layman Laurentius. In short chapters Augustine summarizes what Christians are to believe, what they are to hope for, and how they are to love God and neighbor. A compact, lucid digest of the great bishop's teaching, ideal as a first Augustine.

Contents

  1. Chapter I. The Occasion and Purpose of this 'Manual'
  2. Chapter II. The Creed and the Lord's Prayer as Guides to the Interpretation of the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love
  3. Chapter III. God the Creator of All; and the Goodness of All Creation
  4. Chapter IV. The Problem of Evil
  5. Chapter V. The Kinds and Degrees of Error 🔒
  6. Chapter VI. The Problem of Lying 🔒
  7. Chapter VII. Disputed Questions about the Limits of Knowledge and Certainty in Various Matters 🔒
  8. Chapter VIII. The Plight of Man After the Fall 🔒
  9. Chapter IX. The Replacement of the Fallen Angels By Elect Men (28-30); The Necessity of Grace (30-32) 🔒
  10. Chapter X. Jesus Christ the Mediator 🔒
  11. Chapter XI. The Incarnation as Prime Example of the Action of God's Grace 🔒
  12. Chapter XII. The Role of the Holy Spirit 🔒
  13. Chapter XIII. Baptism and Original Sin 🔒
  14. Chapter XIV. The Mysteries of Christ's Mediatorial Work (48-49) and Justification (50-55) 🔒
  15. Chapter XV. The Holy Spirit (56) and the Church (57-60) 🔒
  16. Chapter XVI. Problems About Heavenly and Earthly Divisions of the Church 🔒
  17. Chapter XVII. Forgiveness of Sins in the Church 🔒
  18. Chapter XVIII. Faith and Works 🔒
  19. Chapter XIX. Almsgiving and Forgiveness 🔒
  20. Chapter XX. Spiritual Almsgiving 🔒
  21. Chapter XXI. Problems of Casuistry 🔒
  22. Chapter XXII. The Two Causes of Sin 🔒
  23. Chapter XXIII. The Reality of the Resurrection 🔒
  24. Chapter XXIV. The Solution to Present Spiritual Enigmas to Be Awaited in the Life of the World To Come 🔒
  25. Chapter XV. Predestination and the Justice of God 🔒
  26. Chapter XVI. The Triumph of God's Sovereign Good Will 🔒
  27. Chapter XVII. Limits of God's Plan for Human Salvation 🔒
  28. Chapter XVIII. The Destiny of Man 🔒
  29. Chapter XXIX. 'The Last Things' 🔒
  30. Chapter XXX. The Principles of Christian Living: Faith and Hope 🔒
  31. Chapter XXXI. Love 🔒
  32. Chapter XXXII. The End of All the Law 🔒
  33. Chapter XXXIII. Conclusion 🔒

Reading groups

🌐 Public discussionOpen to every reader of this book

More by St. Augustine

View all

More in Theology

View all