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Augustine Of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, And Martin Luther

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Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther draw from their historical contexts and the writings of previous theologians to form conclusions on sin, grace, and human freedom. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk and took ideas both from Augustine and Aquinas. Likewise, Thomas Aquinas drew from Augustine, and they share many similarities in thought. From these three theologians’ ideas on sin, grace, and human freedom people began thinking about Christianity outside the church. Augustine of Hippo was a fifth century, African thinker who began writing shortly after the sack of Rome in 410 A.D. (Augustine of Hippo 10/10). He created a metaphor to explain the conquering of Rome by the Germanic tribes, his metaphor of two cities: the city of God and the city of man. Cities of man are earthly cities where sin reigns freely that are all destined to fall (Voices of Christianity 106-107). Rome was built on lust for power, and was thus destined to fall. The city of God is the triumph of good over evil, where sin can be overcome and justice will reign, and destined for salvation (Voices of Christianity 101-102). The city of God is eschatological, meaning it is already and not yet and that heaven will be brought about on earth (Augustine of Hippo 10/10). In addition to writing about his current historical context, Augustine responded to the teachings of Mani (Augustine 10/10). He did like some aspects of Mani’s teachings, but ultimately disagreed with the Manichees

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