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City Of God

What is city of god?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Full title The City of God Against the Pagans[1]
Latin title De civitate Dei contra paganos[1]
Author Augustine of Hippo[1]
Language Latin[1]
Date Early 5th century AD (alternately 413–426 CE)[1]

City of God usually refers to Augustine of Hippo’s book *The City of God Against the Pagans*, a Latin Christian philosophical work from the early 5th century AD that contrasts the City of God with the Earthly City [1].

Context

Augustine’s *The City of God Against the Pagans* is a foundational Christian philosophical work written in Latin in the early 5th century AD [1]. It contrasts two societies: the City of God, whose members forgo earthly pleasure for eternal truths, and the Earthly City, whose members are absorbed in present-world cares [1]. Books 11–22 develop this idea of two contrasting cities [2]. Britannica describes the two groups as the elect and the damned [4]. The phrase can also refer to heaven or the New Jerusalem in dictionary definitions [3].

Documented claims

  • The book presents history as a conflict between the City of God and the Earthly City [1].
  • The City of God consists of people who forgo earthly pleasure to dedicate themselves to the eternal truths of God [1].
  • The Earthly City consists of people immersed in the cares and pleasures of the present world [1].

Questions and answers

What is the City of God in Augustine's book?

The City of God is the society of people who forgo earthly pleasure to dedicate themselves to the eternal truths of God [1].

What is the Earthly City?

The Earthly City is the society of people immersed in the cares and pleasures of the present world [1].

When was The City of God written?

It was written in the early 5th century AD, with an alternate dating of 413–426 CE [1].

Sources

  1. What is The City of God? — gotquestions.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. CITY OF GOD Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. CITY OF GOD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary — collinsdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. The concept of City of God in Christianity — wisdomlib.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture