Contents
- Book I. Of the False Worship of the Gods
- Preface.—Of What Great Value the Knowledge of the Truth is and Always Has Been
- Chap. I.—Of Religion and Wisdom
- Chap. II.—That There is a Providence in the Affairs of Men
- Chap. III.—Whether the Universe is Governed by the Power of One God or of Many
- Chap. IV.—That the One God Was Foretold Even by the Prophets
- Chap. V.—Of the Testimonies of Poets and Philosophers
- Chap. VI.—Of Divine Testimonies, and of the Sibyls and Their Predictions
- Chap. VII.—Concerning the Testimonies of Apollo and the Gods
- Chap. VIII.—That God is Without a Body, nor Does He Need Difference of Sex for…
- Chap. IX.—Of Hercules and His Life and Death
- Chap. X.—Of the Life and Actions of Æsculapius, Apollo, Neptune, Mars, Castor…
- Chap. XI.—Of the Origin, Life, Reign, Name and Death of Jupiter, and of Saturn…
- Chap. XII.—That the Stoics Transfer the Figments of the Poets to a…
- Chap. XIII.—How Vain and Trifling Are the Interpretations of the Stoics…
- Chap. XIV.—What the Sacred History of Euhemerus and Ennius Teaches Concerning…
- Chap. XV.—How They Who Were Men Obtained the Name of Gods
- Chap. XVI.—By What Argument it is Proved That Those Who Are Distinguished by a…
- Chap. XVII.—Concerning the Same Opinion of the Stoics, and Concerning the…
- Chap. XVIII.—On the Consecration of Gods, on Account of the Benefits Which They…
- Chap. XIX.—That it is Impossible for Any One to Worship the True God Together…
- Chap. XX.—Of the Gods Peculiar to the Romans, and Their Sacred Rites
- Chap. XXI.—Of Certain Deities Peculiar to Barbarians, and Their Sacred Rites…
- Chap. XXII.—Who Was the Author of the Vanities Before Described in Italy Among…
- Chap. XXIII.—Of the Ages of Vain Superstitions, and the Times at Which They…
- Book II. Of the Origin of Error
- Chap. I.—That Forgetfulness of Reason Makes Men Ignorant of the True God, Whom…
- Chap. II.—What Was the First Cause of Making Images; of the True Likeness of…
- Chap. III.—That Cicero and Other Men of Learning Erred in Not Turning Away the…
- Chap. IV.—Of Images, and the Ornaments of Temples, and the Contempt in Which…
- Chap. V.—That God Only, the Creator of All Things, is to Be Worshipped, and Not…
- Chap. VI.—That Neither the Whole Universe nor the Elements Are God, nor Are…
- Chap. VII.—Of God, and the Religious Rites of the Foolish; of Avarice, and the…
- Chap. VIII.—Of the Use of Reason in Religion; and of Dreams, Auguries, Oracles…
- Chap. IX.—Of the Devil, the World, God, Providence, Man, and His Wisdom
- Chap. X.—Of the World, and its Parts, the Elements and Seasons
- Chap. XI.—Of Living Creatures, of Man; Prometheus, Deucalion, the Parcæ
- Chap. XII.—That Animals Were Not Produced Spontaneously, but by a Divine…
- Chap. XIII.—Why Man is of Two Sexes; What is His First Death, and What the…
- Chap. XIV.—Of Noah the Inventor of Wine, Who First Had Knowledge of the Stars…
- Chap. XV.—Of the Corruption of Angels, and the Two Kinds of Demons
- Chap. XVI.—That Demons Have No Power Over Those Who Are Established in the Faith
- Chap. XVII.—That Astrology, Soothsaying, and Similar Arts Are the Invention of…
- Chap. XVIII.—Of the Patience and Vengeance of God, the Worship of Demons, and…
- Chap. XIX.—Of the Worship of Images and Earthly Objects
- Chap. XX.—Of Philosophy and the Truth
- Book III. Of the False Wisdom of the Philosophers
- Chap. I.—A Comparison of the Truth With Eloquence: Why the Philosophers Did Not…
- Chap. II.—Of Philosophy, and How Vain Was its Occupation in Setting Forth the…
- Chap. III.—Of What Subjects Philosophy Consists, and Who Was the Chief Founder…
- Chap. IV.—That Knowledge is Taken Away by Socrates, and Conjecture by Zeno
- Chap. V.—That the Knowledge of Many Things is Necessary
- Chap. VI.—Of Wisdom, and the Academics, and Natural Philosophy
- Chap. VII.—Of Moral Philosophy, and the Chief Good
- Chap. VIII.—Of the Chief Good, and the Pleasures of the Soul and Body, and of…
- Chap. IX.—Of the Chief Good, and the Worship of the True God, and a Refutation…
- Chap. X.—It is the Peculiar Property of Man to Know and Worship God
- Chap. XI.—Of Religion, Wisdom, and the Chief Good
- Chap. XII.—Of the Twofold Conflict of Body and Soul; and of Desiring Virtue on…
- Chap. XIII.—Of the Immortality of the Soul, and of Wisdom, Philosophy, and…
- Chap. XIV.—That Lucretius and Others Have Erred, and Cicero Himself, in Fixing…
- Chap. XV.—The Error of Seneca in Philosophy, and How the Speech of Philosophers…
- Chap. XVI.—That the Philosophers Who Give Good Instructions Live Badly, by the…
- Chap. XVII.—He Passes From Philosophy to the Philosophers, Beginning With…
- Chap. XVIII.—The Pythagoreans and Stoics, While They Hold the Immortality of…
- Chap. XIX.—Cicero and Others of the Wisest Men Teach the Immortality of the…
- Chap. XX.—Socrates Had More Knowledge in Philosophy Than Other Men, Although in…
- Chap. XXI.—Of the System of Plato, Which Would Lead to the Overthrow of States
- Chap. XXII.—Of the Precepts of Plato, and Censures of the Same
- Chap. XXIII.—Of the Errors of Certain Philosophers, and of the Sun and Moon
- Chap. XXIV.—Of the Antipodes, the Heaven, and the Stars
- Chap. XXV.—Of Learning Philosophy, and What Great Qualifications Are Necessary…
- Chap. XXVI.—It is Divine Instruction Only Which Bestows Wisdom; and of What…
- Chap. XXVII.—How Little the Precepts of Philosophers Contribute to True Wisdom…
- Chap. XXVIII.—Of True Religion and of Nature. Whether Fortune is a Goddess, and…
- Chap. XXIX.—Of Fortune Again, and Virtue
- Chap. XXX.—The Conclusion of the Things Before Spoken; and by What Means We…
- Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion
- Chap. I.—Of the Former Religion of Men, and How Error Was Spread Over Every…
- Chap. II.—Where Wisdom is to Be Found; Why Pythagoras and Plato Did Not…
- Chap. III.—Wisdom and Religion Cannot Be Separated: the Lord of Nature Must…
- Chapter IV.—Of Wisdom Likewise, and Religion, and of the Right of Father and…
- Chap. V.—The Oracles of the Prophets Must Be Looked Into; and of Their Times…
- Chap. VI.—Almighty God Begat His Son; and the Testimonies of the Sibyls and of…
- Chap. VII.—Of the Name of Son, and Whence He is Called Jesus and Christ
- Chap. VIII.—Of the Birth of Jesus in the Spirit and in the Flesh: of Spirits…
- Chap. IX.—Of the Word of God
- Chap. X.—Of the Advent of Jesus; Of the Fortunes of the Jews, and Their…
- Chap. XI.—Of the Cause of the Incarnation of Christ
- Chap. XII.—Of the Birth of Jesus From the Virgin; of His Life, Death, and…
- Chap. XIII.—Of Jesus, God and Man; and the Testimonies of the Prophets…
- Chap. XIV.—Of the Priesthood of Jesus Foretold by the Prophets
- Chap. XV.—Of the Life and Miracles of Jesus, and Testimonies Concerning Them
- Chap. XVI.—Of the Passion of Jesus Christ; That it Was Foretold
- Chap. XVII.—Of the Superstitions of the Jews, and Their Hatred Against Jesus
- Chap. XVIII.—Of the Lord’s Passion, and That it Was Foretold
- Chap. XIX.—Of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus; and the Predictions…
- Chap. XX.—Of the Departure of Jesus Into Galilee After His Resurrection; and of…
- Chap. XXI.—Of the Ascension of Jesus, and the Foretelling of it; and of the…
- Chap. XXII.—Arguments of Unbelievers Against the Incarnation of Jesus
- Chap. XXIII.—Of Giving Precepts, and Acting
- Chap. XXIV.—The Overthrowing of the Arguments Above Urged by Way of Objection
- Chap. XXV.—Of the Advent of Jesus in the Flesh and Spirit, That He Might Be…
- Chap. XXVI.—Of the Cross, and Other Tortures of Jesus, and of the Figure of the…
- Chap. XXVII.—Of the Wonders Effected by the Power of the Cross, and of Demons
- Chap. XXVIII.—Of Hope and True Religion, and of Superstition
- Chap. XXIX.—Of the Christian Religion, and of the Union of Jesus With the Father
- Chap. XXX.—Of Avoiding Heresies and Superstitions, and What is the Only True…
- Book V. Of Justice
- Chap. I.—Of the Non-condemnation of Accused Persons Without a Hearing of Their…
- Chap. II.—To What an Extent the Christian Truth Has Been Assailed by Rash Men
- Chap. III.—Of the Truth of the Christian Doctrine, and the Vanity of its…
- Chap. IV.—Why This Work Was Published, and Again of Tertullian and Cyprian
- Chap. V.—there Was True Justice Under Saturnus, but it Was Banished by Jupiter
- Chap. VI.—After the Banishment of Justice, Lust, Unjust Laws, Daring, Avarice…
- Chap. VII.—Of the Coming of Jesus, and its Fruit; and of the Virtues and Vices…
- Chap. VIII.—Of Justice Known to All, but Not Embraced; of the True Temple of…
- Chap. IX.—Of the Crimes of the Wicked, and the Torture Inflicted on the…
- Chap. X.—Of False Piety, and of False and True Religion
- Chap XI.—Of the Cruelty of the Heathens Against the Christians
- Chap. XII.—Of True Virtue; and of the Estimation of a Good or Bad Citizen
- Chapter XIII.—Of the Increase and the Punishment of the Christians
- Chap. XIV.—Of the Fortitude of the Christians
- Chap. XV.—Of Folly, Wisdom, Piety, Equity, and Justice
- Chap. XVI.—Of the Duties of the Just Man, and the Equity of Christians
- Chap. XVII.—Of the Equity, Wisdom, and Foolishness of Christians
- Chap. XVIII.—Of Justice, Wisdom, and Folly
- Chap. XIX.—Of Virtue and the Tortures of Christians, and of the Right of a…
- Chap. XX.—Of the Vanity and Crimes, Impious Superstitions, and of the Tortures…
- Chap. XXI.—Of the Worship of Other Gods and the True God, and of the Animals…
- Chap. XXII.—Of the Rage of the Demons Against Christians, and the Error of…
- Chap. XXIII.—Of the Justice and Patience of the Christians
- Chap. XXIV.—Of the Divine Vengeance Inflicted on the Torturers of the Christians
- Book VI. Of True Worship
- Chap. I.—Of the Worship of the True God, and of Innocency, and of the Worship…
- Chap. II.—Of the Worship of False Gods and the True God
- Chap. III.—Of the Ways, and of Vices and Virtues; and of the Rewards of Heaven…
- Chap. IV.—Of the Ways of Life, of Pleasures, Also of the Hardships of Christians
- Chap. V.—Of False and True Virtue; and of Knowledge
- Chap. VI.—Of the Chief Good and Virtue, and or Knowledge and Righteousness
- Chap. VII.—Of the Way of Error and of Truth: That It is Single, Narrow, and…
- Chap. VIII.—Of the Errors of Philosophers, and the Variableness of Law
- Chap. IX.—Of the Law and Precept of God; of Mercy, and the Error of the…
- Chap. X.—Of Religion Towards God, and Mercy Towards Men; and of the Beginning…
- Chap. XI.—Of the Persons Upon Whom a Benefit is to Be Conferred
- Chap. XII.—Of the Kinds of Beneficence, and Works of Mercy
- Chap. XIII.—Of Repentance, of Mercy, and the Forgiveness of Sins
- Chap. XIV.—Of the Affections, and the Opinion of the Stoics Respecting Them…
- Chap. XV.—Of the Affections, and the Opinion of the Peripatetics Respecting Them
- Chap. XVI.—Of the Affections, and the Refutation of the Opinion of the…
- Chap. XVII.—Of the Affections and Their Use; of Patience, and the Chief Good of…
- Chap. XVIII.—Of Some Commands of God, and of Patience
- Chap. XIX.—Of the Affections and Their Use; and of the Three Furies
- Chap. XX.—Of the Senses, and Their Pleasures in the Brutes and in Man; and of…
- Chap. XXI.—Of the Pleasures of the Ears, and of Sacred Literature
- Chap. XXII.—Of the Pleasures of Taste and Smell
- Chap. XXIII.—De Tactus Voluptate Et Libidine, Atque De Matrimonio Et Continentiâ
- Chap. XXIV.—Of Repentance, of Pardon, and the Commands of God
- Chap. XXV.—Of Sacrifice, and of an Offering Worthy of God, and of the Form of…
- Book VII. Of a Happy Life
- Chap. I.—Of the World, and Those Who Are About to Believe, and Those Who Are…
- Chap. II.—Of the Error of the Philosophers, and of the Divine Wisdom, and of…
- Chap. III.—Of Nature, and of the World; and a Censure of the Stoics and…
- Chap. IV.—That All Things Were Created for Some Use, Even Those Things Which…
- Chap. V.—Of the Creation of Man, and of the Arrangement of the World, and of…
- Chap. VI.—Why the World and Man Were Created. How Unprofitable is the Worship…
- Chap. VII.—Of the Variety of Philosophers, and Their Truth
- Chap. VIII.—Of the Immortality of the Soul
- Chap. IX.—Of the Immortality of the Soul, and of Virtue
- Chap. X.—Of Vices and Virtues, and of Life and Death
- Chap. XI.—Of the Last Times, and of the Soul and Body
- Chap. XII.—Of the Soul and the Body, and of Their Union and Separation and…
- Chap. XIII.—Of the Soul, and the Testimonies Concerning its Eternity
- Chap. XIV.—Of the First and Last Times of the World
- Chap. XV.—Of the Devastation of the World and Change of the Empires
- Chap. XVI.—Of the Devastation of the World, and its Prophetic Omens
- Chap. XVII.—Of the False Prophet, and the Hardships of the Righteous, and His…
- Chap. XVIII.—Of the Fortunes of the World at the Last Time, and of the Things…
- Chap. XIX.—Of the Advent of Christ to Judgment, and of the Overcoming of the…
- Chap. XX.—Of the Judgment of Christ, of Christians, and of the Soul
- Chap. XXI.—Of the Torments and Punishments of Souls
- Chap. XXII.—Of the Error of the Poets, and the Return of the Soul From the…
- Chap. XXIII.—Of the Resurrection of the Soul, and the Proofs of This Fact
- Chap. XXIV.—Of the Renewed World
- Chap. XXV.—Of the Last Times, and of the City of Rome
- Chap. XXVI.—Of the Loosing of the Devil, and of the Second and Greatest Judgment
- Chap. XXVII.—An Encouragement and Confirmation of the Pious
- The Epitome of the Divine Institutes
- Introduction
- The Preface.—The Plan and Purport of the Whole Epitome, and of the Institutions
- Chap. I.—Of the Divine Providence
- Chap. II.—That There is but One God, and That There Cannot Be More
- Chap. III.—The Testimonies of the Poets Concerning the One God
- Chap. IV.—The Testimonies of the Philosophers to the Unity of God
- Chap. V.—That the Prophetic Women—that is, the Sibyls—declare That There is but…
- Chap. VI.—Since God is Eternal and Immortal, He Does Not Stand in Need of Sex…
- Chap. VII.—Of the Wicked Life and Death of Hercules
- Chap. VIII.—Of Æsculapius, Apollo, Mars, Castor and Pollux, and of Mercurius…
- Chap. IX.—Of the Disgraceful Deeds of the Gods
- Chap. X.—Of Jupiter, and His Licentious Life
- Chap. XI.—The Various Emblems Under Which the Poets Veiled the Turpitude of…
- Chap. XII.—The Poets Do Not Invent All Those Things Which Relate to the Gods
- Chap. XIII.—The Actions of Jupiter Are Related From the Historian Euhemerus
- Chap. XIV.—The Actions of Saturnus and Uranus Taken From the Historians
- Chap. XX.—Of the Gods Peculiar to the Romans
- Chap. XXI.—Of the Sacred Rites of the Roman Gods
- Chap. XXII.—Of the Sacred Rites Introduced by Faunus and Numa
- Chap. XXIII.—Of the Gods and Sacred Rites of the Barbarians
- Chap. XXIV.—Of the Origin of Sacred Rites and Superstitions
- Chap. XXV.—Of the Golden Age, of Images, and Prometheus, Who First Fashioned Man
- Chap. XXVI.—Of the Worship of the Elements and Stars
- Chap. XXVII.—Of the Creation, Sin, and Punishment of Man; and of Angels, Both…
- Chap. XXVIII.—Of the Demons, and Their Evil Practices
- Chap. XXIX.—Of the Patience and Providence of God
- Chap. XXX.—Of False Wisdom
- Chap. XXXI.—Of Knowledge and Supposition
- Chap. XXXII.—Of the Sects of Philosophers, and Their Disagreement
- Chap. XXXIII.—What is the Chief Good to Be Sought in Life
- Chap. XXXIV.—That Men Are Born to Justice
- Chap. XXXV.—That Immortality is the Chief Good
- Chap. XXXVI.—Of the Philosophers,—namely, Epicurus and Pythagoras
- Chap. XXXVII.—Of Socrates and His Contradiction
- Chap. XXXVIII.—Of Plato, Whose Doctrine Approaches More Nearly to the Truth
- Chap. XXXIX.—Of Various Philosophers, and of the Antipodes
- Chap. XL.—Of the Foolishness of the Philosophers
- Chap. XLI.—Of True Religion and Wisdom
- Chap. XLII.—Of Religious Wisdom: the Name of Christ Known to None, Except…
- Chap. XLIII.—Of the Name of Jesus Christ, and His Twofold Nativity
- Chap. XLIV.—The Twofold Nativity of Christ is Proved From the Prophets
- Chap. XLV.—The Power and Works of Christ Are Proved From the Scriptures
- Chap. XLVI.—It is Proved From the Prophets That the Passion and Death of Christ…
- Chap. XLVII.—Of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Sending of the Apostles…
- Chap. XLVIII.—Of the Disinheriting of the Jews, and the Adoption of the Gentiles
- Chap. XLIX.—That God is One Only
- Chap. L.—Why God Assumed a Mortal Body, and Suffered Death
- Chap. LI.—Of the Death of Christ on the Cross
- Chap. LII.—The Hope of the Salvation of Men Consists in the Knowledge of the…
- Chap. LIII.—The Reasons of the Hatred Against the Christians Are Examined and…
- Chap. LIV.—Of the Freedom of Religion in the Worship of God
- Chap. LV.—The Heathens Charge Justice With Impiety in Following God
- Chap. LVI.—Of Justice, Which is the Worship of the True God
- Chap. LVII.—Of Wisdom and Foolishness
- Chap. LVIII.—Of the True Worship of God, and Sacrifice
- Chap. LIX.—Of the Ways of Life, and the First Times of the World
- Chap. LX.—Of the Duties of Justice
- Chap. LXI.—Of the Passions
- Chap. LXII.—Of Restraining the Pleasures of the Senses
- Chap. LXIII.—That Shows Are Most Powerful to Corrupt the Minds
- Chap. LXIV.—The Passions Are to Be Subdued, and We Must Abstain From Forbidden…
- Chap. LXV.—Precepts About Those Things Which Are Commanded, and of Pity
- Chap. LXVI.—Of Faith in Religion, and of Fortitude
- Chap. LXVII.—Of Repentance, the Immortality of the Soul, and of Providence
- Chap. LXVIII.—Of the World, Man, and the Providence of God
- Chap. LXIX.—That the World Was Made on Account of Man, and Man on Account of God
- Chap. LXX.—The Immortality of the Soul is Confirmed
- Chap. LXXI.—Of the Last Times
- Chap. LXXII.—Of Christ Descending From Heaven to the General Judgment, and of…
- Chap. LXXIII.—The Hope of Safety is in the Religion and Worship of God
- Elucidations