Augustine's ecclesiology was shaped not only by his direct involvement in the North African Church but also by the broader theological and political contexts of his time. His life spanned an era marked by religious conflict, including the Donatist controversy, the rise of Pelagianism, and the eventual triumph of Christianity over the pagan Roman state. Augustine's ideas evolved in dialogue with these pressing theological debates, yet his central concern remained constant: the relationship between the Christian community and the divine authority that structures it. For Augustine, the Church was not merely a social institution or a moral community but the mystical body of Christ, an earthly manifestation of God's eternal plan for salvation. His thoughts on Church and authority would thus become central to the development of Christian doctrine, particularly in terms of the power and role of bishops, the relationship between the Church and the State, and the means by which the Church maintains unity and orthodoxy in the face of internal and external challenges.
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