Confessions - Book XI - Chapter Xiv
St. Augustine explores the mysterious nature of time, emphasizing its created and transient character in contrast to God's eternal existence.
In this profound devotional sermon, St. Augustine reflects on the nature of time and its relationship to God's eternal existence. He invites listeners to contemplate the paradox of time's fleeting moments and the mystery of its origin in the divine act of creation. Augustine's insights challenge believers to deepen their understanding of eternity and the temporal world.
Text
17. There was no time, therefore, when thou hadst not made anything, because thou hadst made time itself. And there are no times that are coeternal with thee, because thou dost abide forever; but if times should abide, they would not be times.
For what is time? Who can easily and briefly explain it? Who can even comprehend it in thought or put the answer into words? Yet is it not true that in conversation we refer to nothing more familiarly or knowingly than time? And surely we understand it when we speak of it; we understand it also when we hear another speak of it.
What, then, is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks me, I do not know. Yet I say with confidence that I know that if nothing passed away, there would be no past time; and if nothing were still coming, there would be no future time; and if there were nothing at all, there would be no present time.
But, then, how is it that there are the two times, past and future, when even the past is now no longer and the future is now not yet? But if the present were always present, and did not pass into past time, it obviously would not be time but eternity. If, then, time present--if it be time--comes into existence only because it passes into time past, how can we say that even this is, since the cause of its being is that it will cease to be? Thus, can we not truly say that time is only as it tends toward nonbeing?
Sermon Outline
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I
- God as the creator of time itself
- No coeternal times with God
- God's eternal nature contrasted with time
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II
- The difficulty of defining time
- Common understanding versus philosophical inquiry
- Time as a familiar yet mysterious concept
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III
- The triad of past, present, and future
- The paradox of present time's fleeting nature
- Time's existence tied to its passing into nonbeing
Key Quotes
“There was no time, therefore, when thou hadst not made anything, because thou hadst made time itself.” — St. Augustine
“If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks me, I do not know.” — St. Augustine
“Time present--if it be time--comes into existence only because it passes into time past.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize the fleeting nature of time and prioritize eternal values in daily life.
- Trust in God's eternal nature beyond the limitations of temporal understanding.
- Reflect on the mystery of time to deepen your faith and awe of God's creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main question Augustine addresses about time?
He questions the nature of time and how it can be understood given its transient and elusive character.
How does Augustine describe God's relationship to time?
God is eternal and created time; He exists outside and independent of time.
Why is time considered mysterious according to Augustine?
Because while we use and understand time daily, its true nature eludes precise explanation.
What does Augustine say about the present moment?
The present is fleeting and only exists as it passes into the past, making it difficult to grasp.