The Enchiridion 54

St Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430) · De fide spe et charitate · PL 40, 230–290

54 Christ’s Second Coming Does Not Belong to the Past, But Will Take Place at the End of the World PL 40, 258

But what we believe as to Christ’s action in the future, when He shall come from heaven to judge the quick and the dead, has no bearing upon the life which we now lead here; for it forms no part of what He did upon earth, but is part of what He shall do at the end of the world. And it is to this that the apostle refers in what immediately follows the passage quoted above: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”

Judicium ultimum pertinens ad res in fine saeculi gerendas. Jam vero quod de Christo confitemur futurum, quoniam de coelo venturus est, vivos judicaturus ac mortuos, non pertinet ad vitam nostram quae hic geritur; quia nec in rebus gestis ejus est, sed in fine saeculi gerendis. Ad hoc pertinet quod Apostolus secutus adjunxit: Cum Christus apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos apparebitis cum illo in gloria .

Philip Schaff (ed.), Buffalo/New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886-1889. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).

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