Appian Way Press

Homilies on the Gospels

by Saint Augustine

These sermons differ in tone and purpose from Augustine’s formal theological treatises. Here he speaks as a pastor addressing a gathered congregation, moving directly through Gospel texts and drawing out their meaning for daily life. His aim is not only to explain, but to persuade—to call his hearers to repentance, to strengthen their faith, and to guide them in the practice of Christian virtue. Across these homilies, Augustine returns again and again to central themes: the necessity of humility before God, the danger of pride, and the primacy of love as the fulfillment of the law. The person of Christ stands at the center of his preaching, not only as teacher but as the one in whom salvation is found. The result is exposition that is at once theological, moral, and deeply practical. At the same time, these sermons offer insight into Augustine’s interpretive approach. He reads the Gospels as a unified witness, frequently connecting passages and drawing out their broader significance. His use of figurative interpretation appears alongside more direct explanation, all directed toward helping his hearers understand and live out the text.