Final answer:
St. Augustine of Hippo played a critical role in resolving the Donatist controversy, using discourse and debate as his initial methods of conversion. His works, especially The City of God, confronted heresies and articulated doctrines that shaped Christian philosophy for centuries, addressing concepts like divine grace, free will, and the distinction between earthly and divine kingdoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The man who played a pivotal role in resolving the Donatist controversy was St. Augustine of Hippo, a highly influential Christian theologian and philosopher. He initially attempted to reconcile the sects through discussion and debate, using his eloquence and deep understanding of Christian doctrine to persuade.
However, Augustine's broader impact on Christianity extends far beyond his efforts to convert the Donatist sect. His seminal work, The City of God, written after the Visigoths sacked Rome, differentiated the earthly realm from the Kingdom of God and reassured Christians of the imperishable nature of the latter.
Moreover, Augustine wrote extensively against various heresies, such as Pelagianism and Manichaeism, promoting the idea that God's creation was inherently good and that evil was a result of human free will and sin rather than an independent force.
In the broader context of Christian and classical learning, Augustine's teachings, particularly on free will and divine grace, laid the foundation for much of medieval European philosophy and continue to be relevant in contemporary philosophical discourse.
His insights into human freedom, the nature of time and temporality, and the intersection of Christian and classical learning have left a lasting legacy within the Christian faith and the wider world of philosophical inquiry