{xxv} Essential Scriptures

As I discuss in section 3 of the Introduction, a reading of the Confessions is greatly enriched by an intimate knowledge of the text of Scripture as Augustine had it. As a help toward such a reading, I include here a translation of nine passages that ­Augustine frequently quotes, half-quotes, alludes to, or otherwise draws upon. They are translated from the Latin text as Augustine had it, which does not always correspond to the text from which our current (or historic) English translations are drawn: so even those who are familiar with Scripture in English translation may find it useful to acquaint themselves with the passages in the versions found here.

1. Psalm 99:3

It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves.

2. Wisdom 11:21

You have arranged all things by measure and number and weight.

3. Matthew 7:7 (paralleled at Luke 11:9)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

4. Matthew 11:28–30

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

5. Luke 15:11–32 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son)1

A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to the father, “Father, give me the portion of your property that belongs to me.” And he divided his property between them. And after not many days, having gathered everything together, the younger son went away into a far-off land and there wasted his property in riotous living. And after he had used up everything, there was a great famine in that land, and he began to be destitute. And he went away and attached himself to one of the citizens of that land, and he sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. And he longed to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But {xxvi} returning unto himself, he said, “My father’s hired hands have plenty to eat, yet here I am perishing of hunger. I shall arise and go to my father, and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. And I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired hands.’”

And, arising, he went to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him; and he was moved by mercy, and, running toward him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. And he said to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Make haste: bring forth the finest robe and put it on him, and place a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring out the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry. For this my son was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to make merry.

But his elder son was in the field. And when he drew close to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things were. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe.” And he was indignant, and would not go in. But his father went out and began to entreat him. And he answered his father, “Behold, I have served you for so many years, and I have never disobeyed any command of yours; and you have never given me a kid so that I might make merry with my friends. But now that this son of yours, who has devoured his property with prostitutes, has come back, you have killed for him the fatted calf.” And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours. But it is right that there should be merriment and rejoicing, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

6. John 1:1–14 (The Prologue to John)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made. What was made is, in him, life, and [this] life was the light of human beings. And light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not swallowed it up.

There was a human being sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, that he might bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but [came] to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. The true light was [the light] that enlightens every human being coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world had been made through him, and the world did not recognize him. He came to his own things, and his own people did not receive him. But to as many as received him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe on his name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.

{xxvii} And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

7. John 14:6

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

8. Romans 1:21–25

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

9. Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us, because the charity of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

1. Augustine focuses almost exclusively on the first paragraph, but it is still good to have the whole parable in mind; and the bit about prostitutes in the third paragraph does get used. It is also helpful to know that the word translated “property” is in each case substantia, “substance.”