On Faith and the Creed · §15 · Augustine of Hippo

The Son's coming as judge in the earthly mission

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Augustine is still expounding the article on Christ's session at the right hand and now explains the creed's next clause about his coming to judge the living and the dead.

We also believe that he will come from there at the most fitting time and will judge the living and the dead. Whether these names mean the just and the sinners, or whether those whom he will find on earth before death at his coming are called the living, and the dead are those who will rise again at his arrival, this earthly mission is not merely as that generation according to God is, but it also was and will be. For our Lord was on earth, and now he is in heaven, and he will be in glory as judge of the living and of the dead. For he will come just as he ascended, according to the authority contained in the Acts of the Apostles. From this earthly mission, then, he speaks in Revelation, where it is written: These things says he who is and who was and who is to come (Revelation 1:4).

Latin

Credimus etiam inde uenturum conuenientissimo tempore et iudicaturum uiuos et mortuos. siue istis nominibus iusti et peccatores significentur, siue quos tunc ante mortem in terris inuenturus est, appellati sint uiui, mortui uero, qui in eius aduentu resurrecturi sunt, haec dispensatio temporalis non tantum est sicut illa generatio secundum deum, sed etiam fuit et erit. nam fuit dominus noster in terris et nunc est in caelo et erit in claritate iudex uiuorum atque mortuorum. ita enim ueniet, sicut ascendit, secundum auctoritatem, quae apostolorum actibus continetur. ex hac itaque temporali dispensatione loquitur in Apocalypsi, ubi scriptum est: haec dicit qui est et qui fuit et qui uenturus est.

About this text

The text does not explicitly state the occasion.

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) delivered this treatise as a presbyter, at the request of the bishops assembled for a council of the whole North African episcopate at Hippo-Regius. He later issued it as a book at the desire of friends. The work offers a fuller treatment of the brief creed memorized by new Christians, to protect it against heretics.

Augustine explains the articles of the creed in order, beginning with God the Father almighty as creator of all things from nothing. He then treats the eternal generation of the Son, the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and future judgment. He defends the full divinity and co-equality of the Holy Spirit within the one divine substance, and finally expounds the church, forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the body, urging that faith must be held before it can be understood.

Augustine quotes Scripture throughout and reports the claims of heretics, Gentiles, and philosophers. Augustine uses Old Latin versions of the Bible, with Psalms numbered according to the Septuagint.

New English from the Latin base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from CSEL 41 (1900) (Latin)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.