Homilies on the First Epistle of John (Vol. III/14) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century)

Saint Augustine s ten homilies on the First Epistle of John are among his greatest and most influential works. John and Augustine both develop the same central theme love --and in these homilies Augustine uses John s epistle as a point of departure for exploring the meaning and implications of love with his customary profundity, passion and analytic rigor. As with John, a context of dissension and conflict within the Christian community (the Donatist breakaway from Catholic unity), gives his preaching a tone of urgency and poignancy. Anyone who reads these homilies, universally viewed as classics, cannot fail to be moved and challenged both intellectually and emotionally.

Augustine of Hippo is one of the greatest thinkers and writers in the Western world. After he became Christian he was made bishop of Hippo in Africa where he was influential in civil and church affairs. With more than 113 books, 200 letters and 500 sermons, he has left a lasting impact on Western philosophy and culture. His classic and best-selling works include the Confessions, The Trinity, The City of God, and Teaching Christianity.