“There are certain rules for the interpretation of Scripture which I think might with great advantage be taught to earnest students of the word, that they may profit not only from reading the works of others who have laid open the secrets of the sacred writings, but also from themselves opening such secrets to others. These rules I propose to teach to those who are able and willing to learn, if God our Lord do not withhold from me, while I write, the thoughts He is wont to vouchsafe to me in my meditations on this subject.”

Written over a period of nearly thirty years, On Christian Doctrine is St. Augustine’s definitive work on how Sacred Scripture is to be read, understood, and taught within the Church. Combining theology, semiotics, and hermeneutics into a single, coherent vision, Augustine lays down the fundamental principles that would shape Christian exegesis for centuries. He distinguishes between things and signs, clarifies the proper order of love, and insists that God alone is to be enjoyed while all created things must be used in reference to Him.

With remarkable clarity, St. Augustine explains how language functions in Scripture, how ambiguities and figurative expressions are to be resolved, and why every true interpretation must accord with the rule of faith and lead to love of God and neighbor. Far from rejecting classical learning, he shows how grammar, history, philosophy, and rhetoric may be lawfully employed in the service of Christian truth. The final book turns from interpretation to proclamation, offering a profound account of Christian teaching and preaching—how truth is not only discovered but communicated with wisdom, humility, and persuasive force.

At once intellectual and pastoral, demanding and practical, On Christian Doctrine remains a foundational text for anyone seeking to read the Bible seriously, teach it faithfully, and proclaim it worthily.