The City of God · Chapter
Chapter XX: The Separation of Light and Darkness and Divine Approval explained
Augustine examines the scriptural account of the separation of light from darkness, noting that God's approval is given to the light alone, not to the darkness, because the darkness represents the fault of the fallen angels, not a natural e
What happens
Augustine examines the scriptural account of the separation of light from darkness, noting that God's approval is given to the light alone, not to the darkness, because the darkness represents the fault of the fallen angels, not a natural evil. He contrasts this with the later creation of the heavenly bodies, where both light and darkness are approved because they are sinless.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Sin, Grace, and Redemption
The darkness is evil by its own fault, not by nature, pointing to the fall of the will.
- True Worship and the One God
God alone is the Creator who approves only what is good, distinguishing true worship from pagan dualism.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and interpreter of the Genesis account, explaining the theological significance of divine approval.
Key passages
“And God saw the light that it was good.”
God looked upon the light and declared it good.
Augustine emphasizes that this approval is given only to the light, not to the darkness.
“And God divided the light from the darkness: and God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.”
God separated the light from the darkness, naming the light Day and the darkness Night.
Augustine notes that no divine approval follows this separation, because the darkness is evil by its own fault.
