Commentary on Malachi

Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Furthermore, who would be so impiously foolish as to say that God cannot turn the evil wills of people—as he wills, when he wills and where he wills—toward the good? But when he acts, he acts through mercy; when he does not act, it is through justice. For "he has mercy on whom he wills, and whom he wills, he hardens." Now when the apostle said this, he was commending grace, of which he had just spoken in connection with the twin children in Rebecca's womb: "Before they had yet been born or had done anything good or bad, in order that the electing purpose of God might continue, it was said of them, 'The elder shall serve the younger.' " Accordingly he refers to another prophetic witness, where it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I have hated." Then, realizing how what he said could disturb those whose understanding could not penetrate to this depth of grace, he adds, "What therefore shall we say to this? Is there unrighteousness in God? God forbid!" Yet it does seem unfair that, without any merit derived from good works or bad, God should love the one and hate the other. Now if the apostle had wished us to understand that there were future good deeds of the other—which God, of…

See also

• More works by Augustine of Hippo

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