ABSTRACT

The Augustinian fragments, which A. von Harnack included in his collection of Against the Christians, are from a letter that Augustine wrote to his friend Deogratias in late AD 408 or 409, that is about one year prior to the famous sack of Rome by Alaric. Porphyry is said to be the fiercest opponent to Christianity, but Augustine's portrayal of the man in City of God gives us the impression that he was one step short of being a Christian himself, if only he had been less proud. Numerous studies have been written on the intellectual relationship between Porphyry and Augustine, but most of them are mainly interested in Porphyry's Neoplatonic influence on Augustine's portrayal of paganism, and, therefore, Christianity, especially in City of God. Augustine is, according to I. Bochet, aware of the work Against the Christians, and is answering Porphyry at the same time as he is answering the pagan's questions.