--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a…" description: "\"“Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job: Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg" --- # Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman… ![“Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job: Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious…” quote by Saint Augustine a Roman bishop ca. 400 A.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg) > ““Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job: Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.”” [Saint Augustine a Roman bishop ca. 400 A.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pastor must address many types of people: rebuke the disruptive, encourage the low‑spirited, support the infirm, refute objectors, guard against treachery, teach the unskilled, awaken the lazy, restrain the contentious, repress the haughty, pacify litigants, relieve the poor, liberate the oppressed, approve the good, and bear the evil, while loving all. **In simple terms:** Pastors should tend to all, balancing discipline, support, and love. Key Takeaway Balance discipline, support, and love in leadership. Themes leadership pastoral care compassion discipline justice Mood reflective serious Type instructional theological When to use this quote - church leadership - counseling - conflict resolution - social work - volunteer ministry Key Concepts theology ethics community care Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance firm guidance with compassion? - Which group needs your attention most? A Different Perspective May neglecting any group cause harm or resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine/) [Augustine Prominent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine-prominent-4604451/) [Bishop Described](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishop-described-4604452/) [Described Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/described-pastor-4604450/) [Pastor Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor-job-1111611/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint-augustine/) ## Related quotes > [There's a huge amount of work on Adam and Eve, from the ancient world to the present. Saint Augustine was obsessed with them.I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/there-s-a-huge-amount-of-work-on-adam-and-eve-from-the-ancient-world/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [Though he avoided outright endorsement of the view, fifth-century Church Father Saint Augustine was clearly familiar with the theory of the spherical earth: "They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/though-he-avoided-outright-endorsement-of-the-view-fifth-century/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“When I read Saint Augustine’s writings, I do not get the impression that he is a man who died more or less 1,600 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/when-i-read-saint-augustine-s-writings-i-do-not-get-the-impression/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Remember, Monsieur, that Saint Augustine says that a person who does not obey the doctors is doing his best to kill himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/remember-monsieur-that-saint-augustine-says-that-a-person-who-does/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Is it experimental to have been influenced by the Bible? By Saint Augustine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-young/is-it-experimental-to-have-been-influenced-by-the-bible-by-saint/) [Marguerite Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-young/) > [Saint Augustine ... insisted that scripture taught nothing but charity. Whatever the biblical author may have intended, any passage that seemed to preach hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/saint-augustine-insisted-that-scripture-taught-nothing-but-charity/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [You know, Saint Augustine said our hearts are restless 'til they rest in thee. And I had a restlessness in my heart. Something just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/you-know-saint-augustine-said-our-hearts-are-restless-til-they-rest/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“For “what the soul is to the body of man,” Saint Augustine was to write, “that the Holy Spirit is to the Body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/for-what-the-soul-is-to-the-body-of-man-saint-augustine-was-to-write/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“... he paraphrased his father's favourite saint, Augustine: Lord, make my wife virtuous, but not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zin-murphy/he-paraphrased-his-father-s-favourite-saint-augustine-lord-make-my/) [Zin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zin-murphy/) > [O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet. Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-lord-help-me-to-be-pure-but-not-yet-saint-augustine/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Saint Augustine defined idolatry as worshiping what should be used or using what should be worshiped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/saint-augustine-defined-idolatry-as-worshiping-what-should-be-used-or/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [Saint Augustine! well hast thou said, That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/saint-augustine-well-hast-thou-said-that-of-our-vices-we-can-frame-a/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“I have become an enigma to myself. So said Saint Augustine. And herein lies my sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-have-become-an-enigma-to-myself-so-said-saint-augustine-and-herein/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Patience is the companion of wisdom. --Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/patience-is-the-companion-of-wisdom-saint-augustine/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Saint Augustine cries, Lord I cannot love you, but come in and love yourself in me. According to Saint Paul, we must put off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/saint-augustine-cries-lord-i-cannot-love-you-but-come-in-and-love/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More Augustine quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [There's a huge amount of work on Adam and Eve, from the ancient world to the present. Saint Augustine was obsessed with them.I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/there-s-a-huge-amount-of-work-on-adam-and-eve-from-the-ancient-world/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [Patience is the companion of wisdom. --Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/patience-is-the-companion-of-wisdom-saint-augustine/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [People are mostly sane enough, of course, in the affairs of common life: the getting of food, shelter, and so on. But the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stove/people-are-mostly-sane-enough-of-course-in-the-affairs-of-common-life/) [David Stove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stove/) > [“I have become an enigma to myself. So said Saint Augustine. And herein lies my sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-have-become-an-enigma-to-myself-so-said-saint-augustine-and-herein/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Augustine says that we may, out of our dead sins, make stepping stones to rise to the heights of perfection. What did he mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stalker/augustine-says-that-we-may-out-of-our-dead-sins-make-stepping-stones/) [James Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stalker/) > [St. Augustine teaches us that there is in each man a Serpent, an Eve, and an Adam. Our senses and natural propensities are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/st-augustine-teaches-us-that-there-is-in-each-man-a-serpent-an-eve/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“St. Augustine wrote something once, something I think about often,” he said. “ ‘God triumphs on the ruins of our plans.’ And maybe that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/st-augustine-wrote-something-once-something-i-think-about-often-he/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [The earliest religious texts in the West ascribe to humankind both a prehistory and a destiny among the gods. M. David Litwa presents a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/the-earliest-religious-texts-in-the-west-ascribe-to-humankind-both-a/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/one-has-not-only-a-legal-but-a-moral-responsibility-to-obey-just-laws/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Is it not lack of faith that leads men to fear the scrutiny of reason? If the destination is doubtful, then the path must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-woolfolk-cross/is-it-not-lack-of-faith-that-leads-men-to-fear-the-scrutiny-of-reason/) [Donna Woolfolk Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-woolfolk-cross/) > [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [St. Augustine explicitly warns against a very narrow perspective that will put our faith at risk of looking ridiculous. If you step back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/st-augustine-explicitly-warns-against-a-very-narrow-perspective-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The fact is that philosophy has been a decisive source of inspiration in all the great crises that Europe has faced. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-esposito/the-fact-is-that-philosophy-has-been-a-decisive-source-of-inspiration/) [Roberto Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-esposito/) [Browse all 115 Augustine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job: Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Augustine a Roman bishop ca. 400 A.D" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-prominent-roman-bishop-described-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Augustine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-prominent-roman-bishop-described-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop_michael-ramsey_around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-promine_1352661.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a prominent Roman bishop, described a pastor's job: Disturbers are to be…” — Saint Augustine a Roman bishop ca. 400 A.D", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Saint Augustine a Roman bishop ca. 400 A.D", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Around 400 A.D., Saint Augustine, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-prominent-roman-bishop-described-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine-a-roman-bishop-ca-400-a-d/around-400-a-d-saint-augustine-a-prominent-roman-bishop-described-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```