Confessions

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Check out the preface below!

Preface to Confessions: A Modern Translation, by Peter Northcutt

Sixteen hundred years ago, in a Roman world obsessed with status and polished appearances, a Christian bishop named Augustine picked up a pen and did something truly radical: he told the truth about himself. Not a sanitized story of sainthood, but an honest, unfiltered account of love, longing, struggle, and unexpected grace.

The result was Confessions, the first memoir the world had ever seen. It was a shocking act of vulnerability, a bold break from convention. No one had ever dared to publish something so personal. In an age when people kept their inner lives concealed and unspoken, Augustine chose to lay his bare. And even after sixteen hundred years, in our digital age still grappling with authenticity, Augustine’s voice rings out—brilliant, broken, and unmistakably human.

His story begins in 354 AD, in the North African town of Thagaste. His father, Patricius, was a pagan with modest means but high hopes for his son. His mother, Monica, was a devoted Christian whose faithful prayers would follow Augustine for much of his life. Together, they poured what little they had into Augustine’s education, hoping he would rise through the ranks of Roman society. In those days, mastery of rhetoric—the art of persuasive speech—was the key to success, and Augustine had the intellect and charisma to shine.

He rose quickly, dazzling his way into elite circles as a teacher of rhetoric and a rising public intellectual. He was brilliant, charismatic, and deeply restless. Beneath the applause and accomplishments, he was searching—for peace, identity, and truth. Christianity, he thought, was too unsophisticated for someone of his intellect. So instead, he tried various philosophies, flirted with fringe religions, and chased pleasure and prestige. But nothing quieted the ache inside.

Confessions is the story of how that changed—not in a single dramatic moment, but through a slow, winding, often painful journey in which grace patiently pursued him. Over time, his misconceptions were stripped away, and his pride was undone. What he had mocked, he came to see as the only hope for his hungry soul. “You have made us for yourself, Lord,” he famously writes, “and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

That realization changed everything. Augustine turned the full force of his brilliance toward the Christian faith, becoming a pastor and eventually the bishop of Hippo. For the rest of his days, he grappled with the great questions—about God, grace, the human heart, and the world we inhabit. He wrote Confessions in his early 40s, about ten years after his conversion, and continued producing foundational Christian works until he died at 75. His writings laid the foundation for much of Western theology, and his voice still echoes through pulpits, classrooms, and libraries.

Today, Augustine is remembered as a saint and a doctor of the Church. But when you open Confessions, you don’t meet a spiritual giant towering above you. You meet a man unguarded and searching, sifting through the wreckage of his past in search of meaning. His voice is so personal, so emotionally present, that you might forget you're reading the words of a fourth-century bishop. You might picture him instead as a modern writer in a hoodie, scribbling his soul into a notebook. But that immediacy isn’t the product of a fresh translation; it’s baked into the original. Augustine pioneered this kind of writing, and he set the bar so high that, even sixteen centuries later, few have reached it.

The structure of Confessions unfolds in two main movements. The first nine books trace the story of Augustine’s life—from his childhood and rebellious youth to his career ambitions, inner conflict, and eventual conversion. These books read like a spiritual memoir, alive with raw emotion and filled with scenes of desire, doubt, grief, and unexpected grace. Then, in the final four books, the narrative slows and deepens. The story gives way to reflection as Augustine turns from his own life to the mysteries of time, memory, the interpretation of Scripture, and the wonder of creation. These later books are more abstract and philosophical, but they reward the patient reader. We see a man fully alive to God, thinking and worshiping with his whole being.

Confessions is unlike any other book. It’s part autobiography, part theology, part philosophy—and at its core, it’s a prayer. Augustine isn’t just telling his story; he’s confessing it to God. Reading it feels like eavesdropping on a conversation so raw and intimate, you almost feel the need to look away. And yet, that vulnerability is what pulls readers in. For centuries, Christians have been moved by Augustine’s unfiltered love for his God. He doesn’t hold us at arm’s length; he invites us into the mess and beauty of his journey. From Thomas Aquinas to C.S. Lewis, generation after generation has turned to Confessions as a model of faith that is both unflinchingly honest and deeply thoughtful.

This remarkable book hasn’t only shaped the Church; it has also shaped the broader current of Western thought. Freud drew on Augustine’s insights into memory. Writers like Tolstoy and T.S. Eliot echoed his longing for truth and transcendence. His reflections on time helped lay the groundwork for modern philosophy. And his fearless self-examination opened the door for generations of writers and seekers to explore the depths of identity, belief, and the human condition. Somehow, this ancient bishop’s prayer has traveled through time, touching nearly every corner of Western thought. Confessions is not just a spiritual classic; it is one of the most enduring and influential works in the history of literature.

And yet, one of the great tragedies of classic literature is how often people miss out, not for lack of interest, but because the language gets in the way. Confessions was written in Latin over sixteen hundred years ago. In its own time, it had a rhythm and familiarity that made it come alive for readers. But those rhythms don’t sound so familiar anymore. Most English translations today stick closely to that ancient Latin structure, and while they’re accurate, they often come across as dense, distant, and academic. For many modern readers, these versions feel like locked doors—heavy, uninviting, and difficult to open, even for the willing.

At Modern Saints, we aim to unlock those closed doors. We want the voices of the great Christian thinkers to speak as clearly and powerfully today as they did in their own time. That's why I've undertaken this extensive rework of Confessions—not just translating words, but reshaping the phrasing, structure, and punctuation so that, for the first time, this timeless book can truly be read in modern English. This isn't a loose paraphrase; it's a faithful, line-by-line rendering, meticulously refined for clarity and connection. Our hope was to create a version that will surprise you, stir you, and stay with you.

To achieve this, I began with a respected 19th-century English translation and carefully updated it, cross-referencing with trusted commentaries to ensure accuracy. I revised outdated vocabulary, reworked archaic expressions, and reshaped the rhythm for a natural, smooth reading experience. Much of the effort involved breaking down Augustine’s long, winding Latin sentences into shorter, more digestible lines. The aim wasn't to dilute the beauty or depth of his writing, but to give it a structure that allows its brilliance to shine for a new generation.

Throughout the text, you'll find brief sidenotes offering cultural context, highlighting key insights, or simply marking moments worth reflecting on. The original paragraph numbers are retained, and I've added new book titles and subheadings to help guide you, especially through the more abstract sections. And because Scripture is woven seamlessly throughout the book, you’ll also find endnotes listing the biblical references Augustine quotes or alludes to.

My hope is that this edition opens the door wide and welcomes you into a familiar connection with this remarkable man, just as I’ve experienced. Working on this translation has been one of the greatest honors of my life. For over sixteen centuries, Confessions has stirred hearts and shaped lives, and I’m humbled to play even a small part in carrying it forward to new readers. May this book challenge you, comfort you, and inspire you to seek the One who has never stopped seeking us.

- Peter Northcutt, Translator