The Council of Hippo was an important church council that took place in 393 AD in the city of Hippo Regius in northern Africa. This council was convened by St. Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, along with other North African bishops. The main purpose of this council was to regulate the faith and discipline of the church in North Africa.
Some key outcomes and events from the Council of Hippo include:
Establishing the Canon of Scripture
One of the most significant acts of the Council of Hippo was establishing the canon of Scripture for the Catholic Church. At this time there were various church councils coming up with their own canonical lists, so the bishops sought to bring uniformity. The council approved a list of 27 books for the New Testament that matched the books we have today. They also affirmed the canon of the Old Testament that had 46 books, including the Deuterocanonical works. This decision helped standardize the Bible for all Christians.
“And we are to reckon to this canon the Wisdom of Solomon as well as the books called ‘Sirach’ and ‘Judith’ and ‘Tobit’ and the so-called ‘Teaching of the Apostles’ and the ‘Shepherd'” (Canon 24, Council of Hippo).
Regulating the Faith
The council issued several statements to regulate the faith and teaching of the church. They affirmed that Christ was fully divine and fully human. They also rejected the views of Pelagius, who taught that humans could attain salvation without God’s grace. The council made it clear that Scripture and right doctrine were vital.
“Nothing except the canonical Scriptures should be read in church under the title of divine Scriptures” (Canon 36, Council of Hippo).
Establishing Liturgical Practices
The Council enacted several canons that regulated liturgical practices in North Africa. They mandated certain prayers and readings that must be said in church services. The council also regulated procedures surrounding baptism and the Eucharist. These decisions helped bring order and unity to the public worship services.
“The sacrifice is to be offered only by those who are fasting” (Canon 29, Council of Hippo).
Regulating Clerical Lifestyles
Many canons from Hippo focused on ensuring clergy lived upright lives. Bishops, priests and deacons were prohibited from cohabitating with women other than close relatives. The council set standards for modest dress and ethical business dealings for clergy. Rules prohibited charging money to ordain new clergy or administer sacraments.
“A bishop should not be ordained except by many bishops, but if there should be necessity he may be ordained by three” (Canon 9, Council of Hippo).
Appointing Church Leaders
The council saw several bishops appointed to important posts. Aurelius of Carthage and Augustine of Hippo were charged with choosing a bishop for the city of Syracuse. The council authorized Augustine and other bishops to appoint a new primate for Numidia. These appointments helped establish orderly leadership.
“Bishop Augustine said: There are many observing places of honor in our midst…But we request that to the place of Honorius the presbyter, the place of a bishop be assigned” (Minutes of the Council of Hippo).
Addressing Church Schisms
The bishops at Hippo formally addressed several schisms impacting the North African church. The council condemned the wrongful actions of Antoninus, Bishop of Fussala, and removed him from office. The Donatist controversy was discussed, and strict standards were passed regarding clergy who had gone over to the Donatist faction. The council sought to unify and stabilize the church by addressing these divisions.
“If those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church have been ordained in schism outside the Church, they should retain their rank if they return to the Catholic unity” (Canon 6, Council of Hippo).
Establishing Authority Structures
Through its various canons, the Council of Hippo formalized structures of authority within the Catholic Church. It emphasized the authority of bishops to govern local churches. The council also established provincial primacy sees to oversee groups of bishops. This organizational model enhanced unity and provided a chain of accountability.
“The bishop of the first see of the province of Numidia and of Tripolitana…shall have the power of ordering matters in concert with his colleagues” (Canon 7, Council of Hippo).
In summary, the Council of Hippo in 393 AD was a pivotal moment in regulating faith, practice, and leadership in the early Catholic Church. Under the guidance of Augustine and other learned bishops, the council standardized the biblical canon, addressed heresies, unified liturgical practices, set standards for clergy, appointed leaders, healed schisms, and established authority structures. The impact of its decisions was felt both in Africa and across the broader Christian world.
Background Information on the Council
To better understand the significance of the Council of Hippo, it helps to know some key details about the historical context in which it occurred:
– Date and Location – The council was held in the city of Hippo Regius in 393 AD, during the episcopacy of St. Augustine as Bishop of Hippo.
– Attendees – Augustine presided over the council along with regional North African bishops, though the exact attendees are unknown.
– Motivations – There was a need to address church discipline issues and consolidate decisions from previous African councils like Carthage in 419 AD.
– Outcomes – The council made critical decisions about scripture, doctrine, clergy, schisms, and authority that impacted the wider church.
– Influence – Many of Hippo’s rulings were affirmed and integrated into later ecumenical councils, enhancing its authority.
– Context – This council occurred as Christianity was being legalized in the Roman Empire but also facing heresies and instability.
So in its late 4th century context, the Council of Hippo proved pivotal in regulating faith and practice in the fledgling Catholic church at a formative stage in its development. Its impact persists today through the biblical canon it approved and the church structures it established.
The Importance of Scripture Affirmed at Hippo
One of the most significant accomplishments of the Council of Hippo was formalizing the canon of Scripture for the Catholic Church. By approving a definitive list of biblical books, the council affirmed the central importance of Scripture for Christian faith and practice.
The bishops at Hippo built on earlier church councils in North Africa and beyond that had begun establishing the parameters of the biblical canon. But variations still existed in different locations. The council sought to bring uniformity and unify around the 27 books of the New Testament and 46 books of the Old Testament that still form our Bible today.
In establishing this definitive canon, the bishops at Hippo affirmed that Scripture must be the firm foundation for Christian doctrine and morals. Biblical books approved by the church as divinely inspired were seen as uniquely authoritative for teaching the faith.
The council also regulated how Scripture was to function in the church. Readings from canonical books were mandated in liturgies. Only approved biblical books could be read publicly during services. And Scripture was to be interpreted from within the tradition of the church.
By elevating the status of Scripture while also grounding its use in the church, the Council of Hippo gave a great gift to all future generations of Christians. We continue to share a common biblical foundation thanks to the discernment of those North African bishops centuries ago.
Church Organization Strengthened
Another significant outcome from the Council of Hippo was establishing structures of authority that contributed to church unity and helped resolve disputes. At a time of schisms and instability in the North African church, the council made key decisions about church leadership that brought greater organization and cohesion.
One of the most important canons from Hippo regulated the election of new bishops. It stated that bishops must be chosen by a group of bishops, not just one. This ensured accountability and consensus in appointing church leaders.
The council also designated metropolitan sees led by archbishops who could settle doctrinal disputes between bishops. And Hippo elevated the Bishop of Carthage to be head of the entire North African church. Under his leadership, future regional councils could be convened.
These organizational decisions helped empower qualified leaders who could unify the church around truth. They also provided a chain of command for resolving conflicts. The improved organization from Hippo brought stability and prevented small disagreements from rupturing whole churches.
By establishing authority structures to guide the church, the Council of Hippo provided a framework that allowed Catholic Christianity in Africa to flourish. Its model of leadership continues to shape church polity today.
Heresies Confronted at Hippo
As Christianity expanded in the 4th century, various heretical movements threatened to divide the faith. The bishops gathered at Hippo took action to condemn false teachings and uphold orthodox doctrine about Christ and salvation.
One major heresy the council confronted was Pelagianism. This was the teaching of a British monk named Pelagius who denied original sin and said people could earn salvation through their own efforts without God’s grace.
Pelagian theology directly contradicted Scripture and Catholic doctrine about human sinfulness and our dependence on God’s grace. The bishops at Hippo joined St. Augustine in boldly rejecting Pelagius’s errors and affirming salvation is only through Christ.
The council also addressed the Donatist schism that was splitting North African churches. The Donatists argued that clergy who compromised under Roman persecution were no longer valid ministers. By condemning the Donatists and regulating clergy who returned, the council neutralized this threat.
Various rules from Hippo also rejected unorthodox beliefs about the nature of Christ and the Trinity. Guarding right doctrine about Jesus was critical. As Augustine taught, only through Christ can humanity be reconciled to God.
By confronting heresies head-on, the Council of Hippo kept the church anchored to biblical truth about salvation at a time when false teachings threatened to draw people away from the Gospel message.
Regulating Clergy Lifestyles and Practices
Many of the canons from the Council of Hippo focused on regulating the conduct of the clergy. The bishops sought to confront moral laxness and corruption that could discredit the church.
Stringent rules prohibited practices like clergy cohabitating with women or having females serve as housekeepers unless they were close relatives. Other canons barred soliciting money for ordaining new priests and bishops or administering sacraments like baptism. Clergy were expected to show moderation and integrity in their lifestyle and business dealings.
The council also established standards for clergy qualifications and training. Requirements were put in place to ensure clergy were grounded in doctrine and able to teach the faith accurately.
By setting ethical and spiritual guidelines for clergy, the council sought to position the church as a credible moral authority at a time when Christianity was gaining influence in society. Maintaining the integrity of bishops and priests was vital.
While some regulations focused on externals, the council’s goal was to create an expectation that clergy exemplify the inner righteousness demanded by the Gospel message they proclaimed. Holiness in ministers lends credibility to the transformative power of the faith.
Standardizing Worship Practices in the Early Church
Beyond addressing doctrine and discipline issues, the Council of Hippo also made key decisions about standardizing worship practices in the early church.
At this formative stage, variations existed across different regions in how church services were conducted. The council brought uniformity by decreeing common prayers, liturgical rites, and biblical readings to be used during gatherings of the faithful.
Specifically, the bishops at Hippo mandated the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer at Mass, along with set prayers at the beginning and end of each service. Psalms were also to be sung responsively between the congregation and lectors.
Rules regulated procedures surrounding sacraments like baptism and the Eucharist, ensuring conformity. The council also prohibited festivals and masses in honor of martyrs on days outside the traditional liturgical calendar.
By unifying liturgical practices, the church projected an image of oneness in worship despite its geographical breadth. Whether in Carthage, Hippo, or Rome, Christians now shared common rituals, Scripture readings, and prayers that bound them together.
The Council of Hippo’s liturgical decisions allowed authentic, biblically-rooted worship practices to take root across the church as Christianity emerged from a persecuted minority religion to the faith of an empire.
Impact on Later Church Councils
While primarily regional in scope, the rulings of the Council of Hippo ended up influencing the wider church through their acceptance at later ecumenical councils. This affirmed Hippo’s authoritative role in the early church.
The Third Council of Carthage in 397 AD ratified Hippo’s biblical canon after comparing it to the canon used in Rome and other regions. Subsequently, the Councils of Rome (382 AD), Florence (1442 AD), and Trent (1546 AD) all formally approved the same Old and New Testament books that Hippo had authorized.
Likewise, important dogmatic pronouncements from Hippo condemning Pelagianism and affirming Christ’s divinity were incorporated into decrees from emperors Honorius and Theodosius II. These were seen as universal Christian doctrine, not just regional rules.
The organizational structures and authority roles established at Hippo also gained broader usage as models for church governance across Christendom.
So while intended for the North African context, the Council of Hippo proved to have a lasting influence on the global church through the weight its decisions carried at subsequent councils. Hippo’s impact endures today across Catholicism and most Protestant traditions as well.
The Prominence of Augustine at Hippo
As bishop of Hippo, Augustine was instrumental in convening and presiding over the Council of Hippo in 393 AD. The eminent theologian’s influence on the council’s decisions gives Hippo special authority.
Augustine was the driving force behind condemning the heresy of Pelagianism, which he refuted for exalting human effort over divine grace in a way that contradicted Scripture and Catholic teaching.
He also pushed for establishing the biblical canon, believing unifying around authorized Scripture would stabilize the church against false teachings. As a scholar, Augustine’s opinion carried weight in evaluating biblical and apocryphal books.
The learned bishop guided discussion at Hippo on important church disputes, leveraging his wisdom, intellect, and reputation for holiness to shape consensus.
And Augustine likely had a hand in crafting disciplinary canons aimed at reforming clergy conduct, drawing on his own experiences before conversion.
So while Augustine was not the sole author of Hippo’s decrees, his towering status as one of Christianity’s greatest theologians gave the council’s decisions heightened legitimacy. The trust other bishops placed in his wisdom is evident.
With Augustine at the helm, the Council of Hippo gained an authority that echoed through subsequent centuries of church history, cementing its significance.
