Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo was a 5th century Christian theologian and apologist. His writings on grace, predestination, and human nature helped shape Reformed theology, and deeply influenced the Five Points of Calvinism. Augustine’s emphasis on God’s sovereignty and the concept of salvation by grace alone were foundational ideas later developed by Protestant Reformers, especially John Calvin, who regarded Augustine as a key source of theological insight.
In Augustine's early life, he was a Manichean, a religious movement founded by Mani Hayya in the 3rd century. Manicheaism blended elements of Zoroastrianism, Jewish Christianity, and Buddhism to present a dualistic worldview where good and evil were seen as opposing forces locked in constant struggle. He was drawn to the movement’s intellectual rigor and explanations of the problem of evil, which resonated with his philosophical inquiries at the time. Augustine eventually grew disillusioned with Manicheaism, particularly its inability to provide satisfying answers to his deeper questions about truth, the nature of God, and the human condition. This dissatisfaction, combined with his exposure to Neoplatonism and the influence of his mother, Monica, and friend, Ambrose of Milan, led him to convert to Christianity.
Augustine’s break with Manicheaism and subsequent embrace of Christian doctrine became a cornerstone of his later work, especially his writings on the nature of sin, free will, and divine grace. His reflections on his journey from Manicheaism to Christianity are profoundly captured in his autobiographical work, Confessions. There, he describes his internal struggles and his eventual realization that true peace and fulfillment could only be found in God through Christ.
