Augustine’s Apocalypse—and Our Own

If Augustine relativizes the catastrophe of Rome, he likewise relativizes the earlier eucatastrophe of Christianity's triumph in Rome. Constantine plays a remarkably minor role in Augustine's narrative. He acknowledges simply that God gave the first Christian emperor “a full measure of earthly rewards,” including a lengthy reign, the glory of founding Constantinople as a daughter of Rome, sons who inherited his empire at his death, and then warns that not every Christian ruler can expect to enjoy the same success. Read Full Article »