Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, titled "401 Again," revisits the year 401 AD to explore Augustine—not only as a theologian, but as a historian and preacher. Stephen Nichols focuses on Augustine's sermon "On the Apostle Paul," delivered at Carthage, and connects Augustine’s reflections on Paul to a 20th-century perspective from Johnny Cash. The episode weaves together insights on spiritual transformation, the mystery of union with Christ, and the enduring relevance of biblical biography.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Augustine as Historian and Preacher

• Augustine’s historical preaching: Nichols emphasizes how Augustine loved to preach about historical figures from both church history and the Bible.
  • Notable Sermons: Augustine preached on martyrs like the Sicilian martyrs, Castus and Aemilius, Perpetua and Felicitas, as well as biblical figures such as John the Baptist, John the Apostle, Peter, and Paul. (00:25)
  • Quote: "I want to introduce you to Augustine the historian. And as an historian, he loved to preach sermons on historical figures." – Stephen Nichols (00:15)

Augustine’s 401 Sermon on Paul

• Location and Occasion: Augustine was in Carthage at the Synod of Carthage, June 23, 401, when he delivered this sermon. (00:13)
• Focus: Paul’s conversion on the Damascus road, highlighting the theme of spiritual transformation and union with Christ.
  • Exegesis: Augustine points out that Jesus says, "Why are you persecuting me?" not merely "my servants," teaching Paul (formerly Saul) the doctrine of union with Christ. (00:43)
  • Influence: Nichols credits Derek Thomas for highlighting the significance of this phrase in the context of union with Christ. (01:08)
  • Quote: "This might be the first time Paul learned the wonderful doctrine of union with Christ, as persecuting the servants is persecuting the Christ." – Stephen Nichols (00:48)

Augustine’s Description of Paul’s Conversion

• Augustine’s words (quoted by Nichols):

  "Paul is now preparing himself to obey where previously he had worked himself up to destroy. Already the preacher is being fashioned out of the persecutor, the sheep out of the wolf, the loyal soldier out of the enemy. He heard what he must do. Yes, certainly he was struck blind. For his heart to shine with an inner light, the outer light was for a time snatched away from him. It was withdrawn from the persecutor to be restored in due course to the preacher. And yet, during the period when he couldn't see anything else, he was seeing Jesus. Thus, even in his very blindness, the mystery of what it is is to be a believer was taking shape, since those who believe in Christ ought to fix their gaze on him, ought to reckon everything else as scarcely even real, so that the creature becomes cheap in their eyes while the Creator grows all the dear in their hearts." (01:19–02:17)

• Key Insights:

  • The transformation from persecutor to preacher embodies the core message of spiritual rebirth.
  • Blindness as a metaphor: External sight is lost so that spiritual sight—seeing Jesus—can develop.
  • The true believer is called to treasure the Creator far above created things.

Modern Echo: Johnny Cash’s ‘The Man in White’

• Nichols draws a surprising parallel to Johnny Cash, who wrote a biography of Paul, The Man in White (1986).

  • Connection: Like Augustine, Cash insists Paul can only be understood "through Christ."

• Notable Excerpt from Cash:

  "But now Paul had finished the fight. Run the race, kept the faith. The apostle was taken outside the city walls to be beheaded. With a Stephen like expression on his face, he closed his eyes and turned his neck to the executioner. The dark outline of the man in white suddenly appeared behind his eyelids. And just as he was dying, the image became as dazzling, as glorified as the one that struck him on that day on the Damascus road. This time, however, the vision did not stop and a truly brilliant light streamed from a countenance whose piercing eyes of love beckoned the apostle Paul." (02:53–03:39)

  • Insight: Even in a creative retelling, Cash captures both the transformation and hope at the heart of Paul’s story.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Union with Christ:
  • “This might be the first time Paul learned the wonderful doctrine of union with Christ, as persecuting the servants is persecuting the Christ.” – Stephen Nichols (00:48)
• On Paul’s Transformation:
  • "Already the preacher is being fashioned out of the persecutor, the sheep out of the wolf, the loyal soldier out of the enemy." – Augustine, quoted by Nichols (01:24)
• On the Blindness of Paul:
  • "For his heart to shine with an inner light, the outer light was for a time snatched away from him...during the period when he couldn't see anything else, he was seeing Jesus." – Augustine, quoted by Nichols (01:41)
• Johnny Cash’s Vision of Paul’s Final Moments:
  • "This time, however, the vision did not stop and a truly brilliant light streamed from a countenance whose piercing eyes of love beckoned the apostle Paul." – Johnny Cash (03:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:07: Introduction; recurring focus on year 401 and Augustine’s presence in Carthage
• 00:25: Augustine’s approach as a historian in preaching
• 00:43: Augustine’s sermon focus on Paul’s conversion and union with Christ
• 01:19–02:17: Extended reading from Augustine’s sermon on the transformation of Paul
• 02:53: Introduction of Johnny Cash’s perspective on Paul
• 03:39: Cash’s depiction of Paul’s death and enduring vision of Christ

Conclusion

This episode artfully bridges fifth-century Carthage and twentieth-century Americana to underscore the timeless lessons found in Paul’s story—of transformation, faith, and the believer’s union with Christ. Stephen Nichols’ storytelling and emphasis on primary sources (both patristic and modern) invite listeners to see “our family history” afresh, through the eyes of those who have most passionately engaged with its truths.