Confessions - Book Vii - Chapter Xii
St. Augustine explains that all created things are inherently good because evil is not a substance but a privation of good, affirming God's creation as supremely good.
In this teaching from Confessions Book VII Chapter XII, St. Augustine explores the profound nature of good and evil, clarifying that all creation is inherently good because evil is not a substance but a privation of good. He reflects on the implications of corruption and affirms the perfect goodness of God's creation. This sermon offers deep theological insight into the problem of evil and the nature of divine goodness.
Text
18. And it was made clear to me that all things are good even if they are corrupted. They could not be corrupted if they were supremely good; but unless they were good they could not be corrupted. If they were supremely good, they would be incorruptible; if they were not good at all, there would be nothing in them to be corrupted. For corruption harms; but unless it could diminish goodness, it could not harm. Either, then, corruption does not harm--which cannot be--or, as is certain, all that is corrupted is thereby deprived of good. But if they are deprived of all good, they will cease to be. For if they are at all and cannot be at all corrupted, they will become better, because they will remain incorruptible. Now what can be more monstrous than to maintain that by losing all good they have become better? If, then, they are deprived of all good, they will cease to exist. So long as they are, therefore, they are good. Therefore, whatsoever is, is good. Evil, then, the origin of which I had been seeking, has no substance at all; for if it were a substance, it would be good. For either it would be an incorruptible substance and so a supreme good, or a corruptible substance, which could not be corrupted unless it were good. I understood, therefore, and it was made clear to me that thou madest all things good, nor is there any substance at all not made by thee. And because all that thou madest is not equal, each by itself is good, and the sum of all of them is very good, for our God made all things very good.[207]
Sermon Outline
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I. The Goodness of All Things
- All created things are good by nature
- Corruption implies prior goodness
- Supreme goodness means incorruptibility
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II. The Nature of Evil
- Evil is not a substance but a privation
- If evil were substance, it would be good
- Evil cannot exist independently from good
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III. Affirmation of God's Creation
- God made all things good
- Diversity of creation reflects varying degrees of goodness
- The sum of all creation is very good
Key Quotes
“Either, then, corruption does not harm--which cannot be--or, as is certain, all that is corrupted is thereby deprived of good.” — St. Augustine
“Evil, then, the origin of which I had been seeking, has no substance at all; for if it were a substance, it would be good.” — St. Augustine
“I understood, therefore, and it was made clear to me that thou madest all things good, nor is there any substance at all not made by thee.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize that all things created by God possess inherent goodness despite their imperfections.
- Understand that evil is not a created entity but a lack of good, helping to reframe how we perceive suffering and sin.
- Trust in God's perfect goodness even when faced with corruption or evil in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augustine mean by evil having no substance?
Augustine teaches that evil is not a created thing or substance but rather a lack or privation of good.
How can corrupted things still be good?
Because corruption diminishes goodness, the things corrupted must have had goodness to begin with.
Why does Augustine say God made all things very good?
He affirms that every created thing has goodness, and collectively, creation reflects God's perfect goodness.
Does this sermon address the problem of evil?
Yes, it explains evil as a privation rather than a created substance, helping to reconcile God's goodness with the existence of evil.