On Faith and the Creed · §22 · Augustine of Hippo

Forgiveness requires forgiving

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Augustine is concluding his treatment of the forgiveness of sins within the creed, warning that God's forgiveness of us is conditional on our forgiving others.

Nor is this the moment to discuss the differences among sins. What we must believe, entirely and without exception, is that the sins we commit will in no way be forgiven us if we remain unyielding when it comes to forgiving sins. And so we believe in the forgiveness of sins.

Latin

Nec de peccatorum differentia modo tractandum est, sed credendum omnino nullo modo nobis ignosci ea, quae peccamus, si nos inexorabiles ad ignoscenda peccata fuerimus. itaque credimus et remissionem peccatorum.

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.