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How did Augustine adapt Plato's philosophy to Christian teachings?

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Painting by Joseph Aubert of Saint Thomas Aquinas seated with a book, wearing a halo and black and white robes, surrounded by ornate patterns in St. Stephens Church, Jerusalem. — Western philosophy Painting of scholastic philosopher St. Thomas of Aquinas by Joseph Aubert, 1900.

St. Augustine of Hippo was the most influential figure in adapting the Platonic tradition to Christian thought, creating a unique synthesis often termed Augustinianism. While he was deeply influenced by Neoplatonism, particularly the works of Plotinus, he fundamentally reshaped these concepts to align with Christian doctrine.12

Key adaptations include:

Anthropology and Epistemology: Augustine adopted the Platonic view of the soul's superiority over the body. He utilized the Neoplatonic doctrine of illumination, arguing that human knowledge of eternal truths comes from God’s direct action on the mind rather than through sense experience.1
Ethics: He transformed the Greek pursuit of happiness into a spiritual goal: the union of the soul with God in the afterlife. While he maintained the Platonic idea that bodily pleasures are inferior, he added that they are a potential threat to spiritual bliss.3
Theology: Augustine rejected the idea that human reason alone could achieve wisdom, asserting that salvation requires grace and faith in Jesus Christ. Unlike the Neoplatonic "One," he viewed God as a personal Creator who holds the Platonic forms within His mind.13