# John — The City of God character guide > John in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the blessed Apostle John, the Apostle John, Apostle John, John Damascene **First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i ## Snapshot The apostle whose Gospel and letters Augustine keeps quoting to prove that Christ is divine, and that God's will works in us before we will it. ## Who they are John stands among Augustine's scriptural witnesses, the evangelist whose words on Christ's divinity and on God's prior knowledge of His people anchor the argument against pagan philosophers. His authority is invoked to show that God is said to know those He causes to know, not because He learns late but because He acts first. For readers entering the middle books, John is the quiet proof-text that keeps grace and incarnation at the center of the city of God. ## Relationships ### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jesus_christ) _friendship_ John is a devoted disciple and close companion of Jesus Christ, often serving as a witness to his ministry and teachings. ### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter) _rivalry_ John, as a Christian apostle, opposes Jupiter as a false god of the Roman pantheon, representing theological conflict. ### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jesus_christ) _friendship_ John is a devoted disciple and close companion of Jesus Christ, often serving as a witness to his ministry and teachings. ### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter) _rivalry_ John, as a Christian apostle, opposes Jupiter as a false god of the Roman pantheon, representing theological conflict. ### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter) _rivalry_ John, as a Christian apostle, opposes Jupiter as a false god of the Roman pantheon, representing theological conflict. ## In the story ### [Of the corruption which had grown upon the Roman republic before Christ abolished the worship of the gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xix) Referenced as the Baptist who addressed publicans and soldiers with moral exhortations. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvi) John, a servant of God in the Egyptian desert, is consulted by Theodosius for prophecy and assures him of victory. ### [The Opinion of Plotinus the Platonist Regarding Enlightenment from Above](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-ii) John the Baptist, cited as an example of a rational soul that is not its own light but receives illumination from the true Light. ### [Of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the Platonists in their impiety blush to acknowledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxix) The Apostle John is cited for the opening of his Gospel, which a Platonist said should be written in gold. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii) Quoted regarding the devil sinning from the beginning. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) Apostle whose words 'The devil sinneth from the beginning' are being interpreted. ### [Book XIV: The Sin of the First Man and the Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xiv) Referenced for the words 'If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vii) Quoted on loving the world and the love of the Father. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) Quoted regarding perfect love casting out fear. ### [Chapter VII: Of the Cause of Cain's Crime and His Obstinacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vii) Quoted for his statement that Cain was of the wicked one and slew his brother because his own works were evil. ### [Chapter IV: The Prophecy of Hannah and the City of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Referenced for writing to the seven churches and testifying that charity is of God. ### [Of the prophets, who either were the last among the Jews, or whom the gospel history reports about the time of Christ’s nativity.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) John the Baptist, the last of the prophets, who pointed out Christ by prophetic knowledge. ### [Of the prophecy of the three prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv) Implied through the Gospel reference to Christ's temple saying, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.' ### [Of the indiscriminate increase of the Church, wherein many reprobate are in this world mixed with the elect.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xlix) Forerunner who proclaimed repentance and the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-liv) Mentioned as the Baptist who baptized Christ in the Jordan. ### [Book XX: The Last Judgment and the Resurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xx) Evangelist whose Gospel and Apocalypse are cited to describe the resurrection and the new Jerusalem. ### [Chapter V: The Passages in Which the Saviour Declares That There Shall Be a Divine Judgment in the End of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-v) The evangelist John is cited for his distinct statement that the judgment shall be at the resurrection of the dead. ### [What is written in the Revelation of John regarding the two resurrections, and the thousand years, and what may reasonably be held on these points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vii) The evangelist and author of the Apocalypse, whose vision of the two resurrections and the binding of Satan is the focus of the chapter. ### [Of the binding and loosing of the devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) The Apostle John, author of the Apocalypse, whose words on the binding and loosing of the devil are interpreted. ### [Chapter IX: The Reign of the Saints with Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) Apostle John, author of the Apocalypse, whose words on the souls of the martyrs are cited. ### [Of Gog and Magog, who are to be roused by the devil to persecute the Church, when he is loosed in the end of the world](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) The Apostle John, whose Revelation is cited regarding the loosing of Satan and the nations Gog and Magog. ### [Chapter XII: Whether the Fire That Came Down Out of Heaven and Devoured Them Refers to the Last Punishment of the Wicked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) The Apostle John, whose apocalyptic vision in Revelation is the subject of interpretation. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii) Apostle and author of the book of Revelation, cited regarding the vision of souls slain for testimony. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) The blessed Apostle John, who received the revelation of the last judgment. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) The apostle John is referenced as the author of the Revelation passage being explained. ### [Of the new heaven and the new earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi) The Apostle John, whose vision of the new heaven and new earth is cited. ### [Of the endless glory of the Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii) Apostle who wrote the Apocalypse and is quoted regarding the new Jerusalem and the confession of sin. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xix) Augustine references John's epistle about many antichrists and the last time. ### [What is meant by the good going out to see the punishment of the wicked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii) Quoted regarding the seed of the saints remaining in them. ### [Of the coming of Elijah before the judgment, that the Jews may be converted to Christ by his preaching and explanation of Scripture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix) Referenced indirectly as the Apostle who wrote of the Last Judgment, though not named in this chapter. ### [Chapter XXIII: Against Those Who Deny the Eternity of Punishment for the Devil and Wicked Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii) Author of the Apocalypse, quoted regarding the devil being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) Referenced indirectly through the phrase 'perfect love casteth out fear' (1 John 4:18). ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) Referenced as the Apostle who taught about love and charity. ### [Chapter V: Of the Resurrection of the Flesh, Which Some Refuse to Believe, Though the World at Large Believes It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-v) Implied as one of the fishermen-apostles involved in the miraculous works. ### [Of the Beatific Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix) Quoted on seeing God as He is when He appears. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/john - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters