Confessions - Book Xiii - Chapter
St. Augustine teaches that true knowledge and appreciation of goodness come only through the Spirit of God dwelling within us.
In this teaching from Confessions Book XIII, St. Augustine explores the vital role of the Holy Spirit in revealing God's goodness and love to believers. He emphasizes that true knowledge of God and what pleases Him comes not from human wisdom but through the Spirit given to us. Augustine challenges listeners to seek joy in God Himself rather than His creation, highlighting the Spirit's work in our hearts as the source of divine love and understanding.
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46. But for those who see these things through thy Spirit, it is thou who seest them in them. When, therefore, they see that these things are good, it is thou who seest that they are good; and whatsoever things are pleasing because of thee, it is thou who dost give us pleasure in those things. Those things which please us through thy Spirit are pleasing to thee in us. \"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of a man which is in him? Even so, no man knows the things of God, but the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us from God.\"[648] And I am admonished to say: \"Yes, truly. No man knows the things of God, but the Spirit of God: but how, then, do we also know what things are given us by God?\" The answer is given me: \"Because we know these things by his Spirit; for no one knows but the Spirit of God.\" But just as it is truly said to those who were to speak through the Spirit of God, \"It is not you who speak,\" so it is also truly said to them who know through the Spirit of God, \"It is not you yourselves who know,\" and just as rightly it may be said to those who perceive through the Spirit of God that a thing is good; it is not they who see, but God who seeth that it is good.
It is, therefore, one thing to think like the men who judge something to be bad when it is good, as do those whom we have already mentioned. It is quite another thing that a man should see as good what is good--as is the case with many whom thy creation pleases because it is good, yet what pleases them in it is not thee, and so they would prefer to find their joy in thy creatures rather than to find their joy in thee. It is still another thing that when a man sees a thing to be good, God should see in him that it is good--that truly he may be loved in what he hath made, he who cannot be loved except through the Holy Spirit which he hath given us: \"Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.\"[649] It is by him that we see whatever we see to be good in any degree, since it is from him, who doth not exist in any particular degree but who simply is what he is.[650]
Sermon Outline
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I. The Spirit Reveals True Goodness
- Human spirit alone cannot know God's things
- Only the Spirit of God reveals divine truth
- Our perception of good is from God's Spirit
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II. Distinguishing True Good from False
- Some judge good things as bad
- Others find joy in creation, not the Creator
- True goodness is recognized through God’s Spirit
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III. God’s Love Manifested Through the Spirit
- Love of God is poured into hearts by the Holy Spirit
- God sees goodness in us through the Spirit
- Our relationship with God is Spirit-enabled
Key Quotes
“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of a man which is in him? Even so, no man knows the things of God, but the Spirit of God.” — St. Augustine
“It is not you who speak, so it is also truly said to them who know through the Spirit of God, 'It is not you yourselves who know.'” — St. Augustine
“Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern true goodness in life.
- Focus your joy and love on God rather than His created things.
- Recognize that understanding spiritual truths requires reliance on God's Spirit, not human wisdom alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we know what is truly good?
We know what is truly good through the Spirit of God who reveals divine truth to us.
Can human reason alone perceive God's goodness?
No, human reason alone cannot fully comprehend God's goodness without the Spirit.
What role does the Holy Spirit play in our understanding?
The Holy Spirit enables us to perceive and appreciate what is pleasing to God.
Why might people find joy in creation rather than the Creator?
Because they do not see through the Spirit of God, they mistake created things for the ultimate source of joy.