Six Ages of The World - Six Ages

Six Ages

The Six Ages are best described in the words of Saint Augustine, found in De catechizandis rudibus (On the catechizing of the uninstructed), Chapter 22:

  1. The First Age: "The first is from the beginning of the human race, that is, from Adam, who was the first man that was made, down to Noah, who constructed the ark at the time of the flood," i.e the Antediluvian period.
  2. The Second Age: "..extends from that period on to Abraham, who was called the father indeed of all nations.."
  3. The Third Age: "For the third age extends from Abraham on to David the king."
  4. The Fourth Age: "The fourth from David on to that captivity whereby the people of God passed over into Babylonia."
  5. The Fifth Age: "The fifth from that transmigration down to the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ."
  6. The Sixth Age: "With His coming the sixth age has entered on its process."

The Ages reflect the seven days of creation, of which the last day is the rest of Sabbath, illustrating the human journey to find eternal rest with God, a common Christian narrative.

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