The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love

the ideas of this man furnished the themes for the piety and theology of more than a thousand years. No one possessed the "whole" Augustine, but all lived upon the fragments of his spirit from which each appropriated and understood what was "adapted" to his own wants." Reinhold Seeberg The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love was written by St. Augustine to supply a well-educated Roman layman with a brief but comprehensive exposition of the essential teachings of Christianity. It contains many of Augustine's most profound thoughts on sin, grace, and predestination, and might surprise modern readers with its emphasis on a reasoned, intellectual approach to faith. The Enchiridion (a term that comes from the Greek for "handbook") is an indispensable guide to understanding St. Augustine and is, in itself, a catechism for readers seeking an appreciation of early Christianity. Now with a new introduction by Boston College professor of philosophy, Thomas Hibbs.