Augustine City of God, Book XIX, Chapter 15

Augustine City of God, Book XIX, Chapter 15

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DOCTORS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

(Doctors of the church are theologians whose teachings have been deemed authoritative for Catholics to follow.  Augustine and Thomas Aquinas are the premiere moral theologians of the RCC.)

Augustine City of God, Book XIX, Chapter 15

Moreover, when men are subjected to one another in a peaceful order, the lowly position does as much good to the servant as the proud position does harm to the master.

But by nature, as God first created us, no one is the slave either of man or of sin. This servitude is, however, penal, and is appointed by that law which enjoins the preservation of the natural order and forbids its disturbance; for if nothing had been done in violation of that law, there would have been nothing to restrain by penal servitude.

And therefore the apostle admonishes slaves to be subject to their masters, and to serve them heartily and with good-will, so that, if they cannot be freed by their masters, they may themselves make their slavery in some sort free, by serving not in crafty fear, but in faithful love, until all unrighteousness pass away, and all principality and every human power be brought to nothing, and God be all in all.

10. To whom does Augustine refer as “the apostle” who “admonishes slaves to be subject to their master?”
11. Augustine says servitude or slavery is not “by nature” or “as God first created us.” If slavery is unnatural, where, according to this passage, does it come from?
12. According to the last sentence, how should a slave feel about her enslavement?

13. I came across this in Google images and wondered anyone would put this on a billboard and why. What do you think?