Cornell Notes: St. Augustine — The City of God and the City of Man
| Cues / Questions | Notes |
| 1. What are the two cities? | Augustine names two 'cities' as ways people live: the City of God (heavenly, loves God) and the City of Man (earthly, loves self). The City of God is ordered by love of God and hopes for eternal life. The City of Man is ordered by self-love and seeks power, pleasure, or fame now. |
| 2. How did they begin? | Augustine traces their origin back to the Fall. He links the start of each city to the choices of two brothers in Genesis: Abel (who loved God) represents the City of God; Cain (who loved himself) represents the City of Man. The cities exist because people choose different loves. |
| 3. Their futures? | The City of God ends in eternal peace with God — salvation. The City of Man faces judgment and will vanish or be punished because it rejects God’s rule. Augustine says Rome’s fall doesn’t prove Christianity wrong; earthly cities fall, the heavenly city endures. |
| 4. OT tracing — who’s who? | Augustine reads the Old Testament as a story pointing to the two cities. Figures tied to the City of God include Abel, Noah (faithful remnant), Abraham (faith through promise), and David in a spiritual role. Figures tied to the City of Man include Cain, Babel builders, and sometimes Israel when it acts wrongly. Augustine reads Scripture allegorically and historically — events can have deeper spiritual meanings. |
| 5. How he reads Scripture? | Augustine blends literal and allegorical reading. He looks for moral lessons, promises fulfilled in Christ, and political-spiritual meanings. He believes the Old and New Testaments are connected: the Old points forward to Christ and the Church; the New fulfills it. Israel is the historical people but the Church is the spiritual continuation. |
| 6. Flaws of the earthly city? | The earthly city is flawed because it loves lesser things more than God. Goods on earth (wealth, honor, food) are not bad in themselves, but when loved wrongly they become twisted — they replace God as ultimate end. Augustine says created things can be good when ordered toward God. |
| 7. Peace and discord? | Peace comes from ordering loves correctly: love of God leads to peace. Discord comes when people love self or worldly things above God. The two cities are mixed in history: people and communities show both types of love, which causes struggle and conflict. |
| 8. Suffering and God? | Suffering is part of earthly life. Augustine says God does not always prevent suffering; sometimes suffering is allowed to teach, test, or bring about greater goods. Christians may suffer but God can use suffering to strengthen faith and bring final healing in the City of God. Earthly healing is limited; ultimate healing is eternal. |
| 9. Christians and earthly affairs? | Christians should live responsibly in the world but without putting worldly success above God. Augustine encourages civic duty (justice, mercy) but warns against building identity on political power. Examples: honest leaders who act with charity; monks who pray and help the poor; citizens who seek justice without idolizing empire. |
| 10. Implications & Rome 410? | Augustine wrote after Rome was sacked in 410. He argued that Rome’s fall shows earthly glory is fleeting. Christians should not panic; the City of God endures. The sack taught that human empires can fail; faith should be placed in God, not in armies or cities. |
| 11. Comparison with Tertullian & Chrysostom? | Tertullian pushed separation from culture ('What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?'). Chrysostom critiqued luxury and urged moral reform. Augustine is complex: he sometimes agrees with their critique of earthly pride, but he also accepts some engagement with society (laws, charity). He argues a middle way: live in the world with Christian love but keep ultimate hope in God. |
Summary for a 13-year-old (short)
Augustine teaches that people form two kinds of communities by what they love: one built on loving God and aiming for eternal life, and one built on loving ourselves and temporary things. The Bible stories show both kinds. Earthly goods can be good, but if we love them more than God they become harmful. Christians should care for the world but not make it their all. Rome’s fall reminds us that only God’s city lasts forever.
Extended summary and classroom comment (ACARA v9 English aligned)
Reading skills used: identifying main ideas, comparing viewpoints, using evidence from text, making connections between historical context and meaning. Augustine reads Scripture both literally and symbolically; he uses Old Testament stories to show how human choices create different kinds of society. His tone is pastoral and philosophical: he consoles Christians worried about Rome by reminding them of the eternal city.
Teacher feedback rubric comments (Ally McBeal cadence — playful, clear, professional)
- Year 8 — Meeting expectations (Proficient): "Oh, I hear you — clear, simple, solid. Your Cornell notes show the main idea: two cities, two loves. You used Genesis and a couple of Old Testament examples — good. Next step: add one more quote or page number so your evidence sings a little louder. Keep that tidy layout — I love the neat cues."
- Year 8 — Exceeding (Exemplary): "Wow, the connections are crisp... you linked Cain/Abel to Augustine’s cities and explained why goods can be twisted. Your summary is calm and convincing. Try pushing one short paragraph that explains Augustine’s reading style — literal plus allegory — just one anchor sentence. Beautiful work."
- Year 9 — Meeting expectations (Proficient): "Nice rhythm: you answer the how, the why, the what next. You explain suffering the way Augustine might — not easy, but you do it simply. To grow: show one line of evidence from Augustine (a phrase or idea) and discuss how it helps your point. Small addition, big lift."
- Year 9 — Exceeding (Exemplary): "You’re singing now... good analysis of Old Testament figures and what they mean for each city. You compared Augustine to Tertullian and Chrysostom with confidence. Add one short example from today (a modern leader or event) to make the idea live. Excellent clarity and balance."
- Year 10 — Meeting expectations (Proficient): "Your notes show cause and effect — origins, futures, and implications. You used historical context (Rome 410) well. For improvement: deepen one claim about how Augustine reads Scripture — give an example of allegory vs literal reading, just one line. Very capable."
- Year 10 — Exceeding (Exemplary): "Graceful and confident. You consider Augustine’s pastoral aim and theological logic. Your treatment of earthly goods — good but twisted — is thoughtful. You could briefly consider a counter-argument (someone who thinks empire does matter). Then, you’d be unstoppable."
- Years 11–12 — Meeting expectations (Proficient): "Solid, mature notes: you connect Augustine’s theology with politics and ethics. You keep the writing purposeful and clear. For higher markwork: introduce a short critical question — do both cities ever fully separate? One paragraph debating that would deepen analysis."
- Years 11–12 — Exceeding (Exemplary): "Terrific—nuanced, analytical, and historically aware. You trace Augustine across Scripture and show implications for Christian civic life. To reach the top band, add a succinct thesis sentence at the start of your summary and one citation from Augustine. Then the piece reads like a confident scholar with heart."
Practical next steps for you (13-year-old friendly)
- Underline key words: 'love', 'eternal', 'city', 'fall', 'peace'.
- Add one direct quote from the text (a short line) and explain how it supports your notes.
- Write one-sentence answers to each of the eight questions and glue them under your cues — quick revision shots.
- Try a short paragraph imagining: if you were living in Augustine’s time, what would you hope the City of God would look like in your town?
ACARA v9 English alignment notes
- Comprehending texts: identify main ideas and supporting details.
- Analysing: compare viewpoints, explain author intent and rhetorical choices.
- Creating texts: write summaries, structured notes, and short reflective paragraphs.
- Language: use precise vocabulary (eg. allegory, literal, eternal, civic). Attention to structure: clear introduction, body, conclusion.
Final thought — in an Ally voice: "It’s all about love, really... the kind that lasts. You’ve got the map. Keep walking the line between clear notes and brave thinking. That, my friend, is where the City of God meets your classroom."