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The City of God · Character

Paul

The apostle to the Gentiles whose letters Augustine leans on to show that the city of God grows by grace, not by the observances of the old law.

supporting

Also known as the Corinthians the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians

First appearance: part i book i

As a supporting figure in The City of God, Paul is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Quoted as the apostle who warns against despising God's goodness and long-suffering, and speaks of the righteous judgment of God.
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Paul is Augustine's most quoted authority for the argument that the promise to Abraham about all nations is fulfilled not by the old law but by the advent of Christ and the faith of the gospel. He is the counterweight…

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See Paul in part i book i

Character Web

22 connections

A slice of how Paul sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

MVMarcus VarroPEPeterCICiceroJAJacobLOLotPAPaul

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Patriarchs and Pagan Figures
  • Roman Statesmen and Emperors

+17 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

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In the story

Paul appears across 111 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Paul in part i book i