In chapter 14.21 of the De fide et operibus St. Augustine mentions in passing that recently he published a work entitled De spiritu et littera.1 We know that he finished this latter work towards the end of the year 412. Accordingly, he wrote the De fide et operibus early in the year 413. Moreover, this date is suggested by the fact that in his Retractationes Augustine places this work immediately after the De spiritu et littera.2 Augustine himself tells