On the Spirit and the Letter

ON THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER.

And not without reason does the Apostle In Augustine’s writings, "the Apostle" almost always refers to St. Paul. turn from this point to mention with detestation those who, through that vice I mentioned above—fickle and puffed up, and lifted up as if through a void by themselves, where they could not rest but were broken and shattered—fell into the fabrications of idols as if onto stones. For since he had commended the piety of faith, by which we, being justified by God, ought to be thankful, he added as a contrary thing which we should detest: "For," he says, "the wrath

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of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those men who hold back the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God has manifested it to them. For his invisible things from the creation of the world are understood and seen through those things which are made: also his eternal power and divinity, so that they are without excuse. Because, knowing God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and of four-footed beasts, and of serpents." Augustine is quoting Romans 1:18–23, arguing that knowledge of God exists even outside of Jewish Law, but leads to condemnation if not paired with gratitude and grace. See how he did not say they were ignorant of the truth, but that they held the truth in iniquity. For it occurred to his mind to ask how they could have knowledge of the truth, those to whom God had not given the Law. Nor was he silent about how they were able to have it. For he said that through the visible things of creation they arrived at the understanding of the invisible things of the Creator. Since indeed, as great minds Augustine likely refers here to the "Platonists," whom he believed reached a high understanding of the divine through philosophy but failed to escape the sin of pride. persisted in seeking, so they were able to find. Where then is the impiety? Because, clearly, when they had known God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their thoughts. Their specific disease is vanity,

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