0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R100 - R250 (6)
  • R250 - R500 (62)
  • R500+ (1,315)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Christianity > Early Church

Funerary Speech for John Chrysostom (Hardcover): Timothy D. Barnes Funerary Speech for John Chrysostom (Hardcover)
Timothy D. Barnes; Commentary by Timothy D. Barnes; Translated by George Bevan; Commentary by George Bevan
R4,039 Discovery Miles 40 390 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book offers the first English translation of the funerary speech for John Chyrsostom delivered by one of his former clergy in a city close to Constantinople in the autumn of 407 when news arrived of John's death on a forced march in eastern Asia Minor. The speech is the earliest and fullest account of John's activities as bishop of Constantinople between 397 and 404. It replaces the slightly later Historical Dialogue on John by Palladius as the prime source for John in Constantinople The translators are both Late Roman Historians, and their introduction and notes illustrate the importance of this new text, which was first edited critically and published as recently as 2007.

Augustine on Memory (Hardcover): Kevin G. Grove Augustine on Memory (Hardcover)
Kevin G. Grove
R2,593 Discovery Miles 25 930 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Augustine of Hippo, indisputably one of the most important figures for the study of memory, is credited with establishing memory as the inner source of selfhood and locus of the search for God. Yet, those who study memory in Augustine have never before taken into account his preaching. His sermons are the sources of memory's greatest development for Augustine. In Augustine's preaching, especially on the Psalms, the interior gives way to communal exterior. Both the self and search for God are re-established in a shared Christological identity and the communal labors of remembering and forgetting. This book opens with Augustine's early works and Confessions as the beginning of memory and concludes with Augustine's Trinity and preaching on Psalm 50 as the end of memory. The heart of the book, the work of memory, sets forth how ongoing remembering and forgetting in Christ are for Augustine are foundational to the life of grace. To that end, Augustine and his congregants go leaping in memory together, keep festival with abiding traces, and become forgetful runners like St. Paul. Remembering and forgetting in Christ, the ongoing work of memory, prove for Augustine to be actions of reconciliation of the distended experiences of human life-of praising and groaning, labouring and resting, solitude and communion. Augustine on Memory presents this new communal and Christological paradigm not only for Augustinian studies, but also for theologians, philosophers, ethicists, and interdisciplinary scholars of memory.

Individuality in Late Antiquity (Hardcover, New Ed): Alexis Torrance, Johannes Zachhuber Individuality in Late Antiquity (Hardcover, New Ed)
Alexis Torrance, Johannes Zachhuber
R4,626 Discovery Miles 46 260 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Late antiquity is increasingly recognised as a period of important cultural transformation. One of its crucial aspects is the emergence of a new awareness of human individuality. In this book an interdisciplinary and international group of scholars documents and analyses this development. Authors assess the influence of seminal thinkers, including the Gnostics, Plotinus, and Augustine, but also of cultural and religious practices such as astrology and monasticism, as well as, more generally, the role played by intellectual disciplines such as grammar and Christian theology. Broad in both theme and scope, the volume serves as a comprehensive introduction to late antique understandings of human individuality.

Desiring Conversion - Hermas, Thecla, Aseneth (Hardcover, New): B. Diane Lipsett Desiring Conversion - Hermas, Thecla, Aseneth (Hardcover, New)
B. Diane Lipsett
R2,848 Discovery Miles 28 480 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Self-restraint or self-mastery may appear to be the opposite of erotic desire. But in this nuanced, literary analysis, Diane Lipsett traces the intriguing interplay of desire and self-restraint in three ancient tales of conversion: The Shepherd of Hermas, the Acts of Paul and Thecla, and Joseph and Aseneth. Lipsett treats "conversion"--marked change in a protagonist's piety and identity--as in part an effect of story, a function of narrative textures, coherence, and closure. Her approach is theoretically versatile, drawing on Foucault, psychoanalytic theorists, and the ancient literary critic Longinus. Well grounded in scholarship on Hermas, Thecla, and Aseneth, the closely paced readings sharpen attention to each story, while advancing discussions of ancient views of the self; of desire, masculinity, and virginity; of the cultural codes around marriage and continence; and of the textual energetics of conversion tales.

The Displacement of the Body in AElfric's Virgin Martyr Lives (Hardcover, New Ed): Alison Gulley The Displacement of the Body in AElfric's Virgin Martyr Lives (Hardcover, New Ed)
Alison Gulley
R4,620 Discovery Miles 46 200 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Displacement of the Body in AElfric's Virgin Martyr Lives addresses 10th-century Old English hagiographical translations, from Latin source material, by the abbot and grammarian AElfric. The vitae of Agnes, Agatha, Lucy, and Eugenia, and the married saints Daria, Basilissa, and Cecilia, included in AElfric's s Old English Lives of Saints, recount the lives, persecution, and martyrdom of young women who renounce sex and, in the first four stories, marriage, to devote their lives to Christian service. They purport to be about the primacy of virginity and the role of the body in attaining sanctity. However, a comparison of the Latin sources with AElfric's versions suggests that his translation style, characterized by simplifying the most important meanings of the text, omits certain words or entire episodes that foreground suppressed female sexuality as key to sainthood. The Old English Lives de-emphasize the physical nature of faith and highlight the importance of spiritual purity. In this volume, Alison Gulley explores how the context of the Benedictine Reform in late Anglo-Saxon England and AElfric's commitment to writing for a lay audience resulted in a set of stories depicting a spirituality distinct from physical intactness.

Episcopal Appointments in England, c. 1214-1344 - From Episcopal Election to Papal Provision (Hardcover, New Ed): Katherine... Episcopal Appointments in England, c. 1214-1344 - From Episcopal Election to Papal Provision (Hardcover, New Ed)
Katherine Harvey
R4,647 Discovery Miles 46 470 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

In 1214, King John issued a charter granting freedom of election to the English Church; henceforth, cathedral chapters were, theoretically, to be allowed to elect their own bishops, with minimal intervention by the crown. Innocent III confirmed this charter and, in the following year, the right to electoral freedom was restated at the Fourth Lateran Council. In consequence, under Henry III and Edward I the English Church enjoyed something of a golden age of electoral freedom, during which the king might influence elections, but ultimately could not control them. Then, during the reigns of Edward II and Edward III, papal control over appointments was increasingly asserted and from 1344 onwards all English bishops were provided by the pope. This book considers the theory and practice of free canonical election in its heyday under Henry III and Edward I, and the nature of and reasons for the subsequent transition to papal provision. An analysis of the theoretical evidence for this subject (including canon law, royal pronouncements and Lawrence of Somercote's remarkable 1254 tract on episcopal elections) is combined with a consideration of the means by which bishops were created during the reigns of Henry III and the three Edwards. The changing roles of the various participants in the appointment process (including, but not limited to, the cathedral chapter, the king, the papacy, the archbishop and the candidate) are given particular emphasis. In addition, the English situation is placed within a European context, through a comparison of English episcopal appointments with those made in France, Scotland and Italy. Bishops were central figures in medieval society and the circumstances of their appointments are of great historical importance. As episcopal appointments were also touchstones of secular-ecclesiastical relations, this book therefore has significant implications for our understanding of church-state interactions during the thirteenth and fourteenth centu

The Birth of Philosophic Christianity - Studies in Early Christian and Medieval Thought (Paperback): Ernest L. Fortin The Birth of Philosophic Christianity - Studies in Early Christian and Medieval Thought (Paperback)
Ernest L. Fortin
R1,921 Discovery Miles 19 210 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

In Volume One of Ernest Fortin: Collected Essays, the renowned theologian and political philosopher examines various facets of the unique encounter between biblical religion and Greek philosophy during the early Christian centuries and the Middle Ages. Fortin's aim is to uncover the crucial issues to which this encounter gave rise, such as the sometimes troubling but immensely fruitful tension between divine revelation and philosophic reason. The book includes sections on St. Augustine and the refounding of Christianity; the encounter between Jerusalem and Athens; the medieval roots of Christian education; and Dante and the politics of Christendom.

Bede: Commentary on Revelation (Hardcover, annotated edition): Bede Bede: Commentary on Revelation (Hardcover, annotated edition)
Bede; Translated by Faith Wallis; Commentary by Faith Wallis
R4,055 Discovery Miles 40 550 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Commentary on Revelation is Bede's first venture into Biblical exegesis -- an ambitious choice for a young monastic scholar in a newly Christianized land. Its subject matter -- the climax of the great story of creation and redemption, of history and of time itself -- adds to the Commentary's intrinsic importance, for these themes lie at the heart of Bede's concerns and of his achievement as a historian, exegete, scholar, and preacher. But Bede was also a man of his age. When he penned the Commentary around 703, speculation and anxiety about the end of the world was in the air. According to conventional chronology, almost 6000 years had passed since creation. If for God -one day... is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day' (2 Peter 3:8), the world was destined to last six millennia, corresponding to the six days of creation. The end, then, was close. Bede vigorously opposed the temptation to calculate the time of the end. The Commentary argues that Revelation is not a literal prophecy, but a symbolic reflection on the perennial struggle of the Church in this world. At the same time, the young Bede is starting to shape his own account of how the end-times would unfold. This translation, prefaced by a substantial Introduction, will be of interest to students of medieval religious and cultural history, of Anglo-Saxon England, and of the history of Biblical exegesis in the Middle Ages.

Birth of a Worldview - Early Christianity in its Jewish and Pagan Context (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition): Robert Doran Birth of a Worldview - Early Christianity in its Jewish and Pagan Context (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition)
Robert Doran
R1,334 Discovery Miles 13 340 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Birth of a Worldview is a groundbreaking intellectual history of the making of the worldview that came to define western Christian culture for two millennia. Using a broad range of primary sources, Robert Doran narrates the story of how early thinkers wrestled with philosophical and cultural questions in order to form a view that would make sense of their place in the world. This engaging book will be of interest to scholars, students, and general readers interested in religious studies, ancient history, and intellectual thought.

The Church and Social Reform - The Policies of the Patriarch Athanasios of Constantinople (Paperback): John L Boojamra The Church and Social Reform - The Policies of the Patriarch Athanasios of Constantinople (Paperback)
John L Boojamra
R989 R862 Discovery Miles 8 620 Save R127 (13%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Church and Social Reform studies the nature and extent of Athanasios' social reforms and political involvement during his two tenures on the patriarchal throne of Constantiople. The traditional influence, power, and authority that resided in the patriarchate of Constantinople made the involvement of an aggressive patriarch in the social affairs of the empire virtually inevitable.

The Grotesque Body in Early Christian Discourse - Hell, Scatology and Metamorphosis (Paperback): Istvan Czachesz The Grotesque Body in Early Christian Discourse - Hell, Scatology and Metamorphosis (Paperback)
Istvan Czachesz
R4,168 Discovery Miles 41 680 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Early Christian apocryphal and conical documents present us with grotesque images of the human body, often combining the playful and humorous with the repulsive, and fearful. First to third century Christian literature was shaped by the discourse around and imagery of the human body. This study analyses how the iconography of bodily cruelty and visceral morality was produced and refined from the very start of Christian history. The sources range across Greek comedy, Roman and Jewish demonology, and metamorphosis traditions. The study reveals how these images originated, were adopted, and were shaped to the service of a doctrinally and psychologically persuasive Christian message.

Icon - Studies in the History of An Idea (Paperback, New Ed): Moshe Barasch, Luci Serrano Icon - Studies in the History of An Idea (Paperback, New Ed)
Moshe Barasch, Luci Serrano
R824 Discovery Miles 8 240 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Over the centuries, European debate about the nature and status of images of God and sacred figures has often upset the established order and shaken societies to their core. Out of this debate, an identifiable doctrine has emerged of the image in general and of the divine image in particular. This fascinating work concentrates on these historical arguments, from the period of Late Antiquity up to the great and classic defenses of images by St. John of Damascus and Theodore of Studion. Icon extends beyond the immediate concerns of religion, philosophy, aesthetics, history, and art, to engage them all.

Blackbird's Nest ^hardcover] (Paperback): Schroedel Blackbird's Nest ^hardcover] (Paperback)
Schroedel
R407 R373 Discovery Miles 3 730 Save R34 (8%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Kevin was always different. He loved animals and seemed to understand their secret language. But other children brought out the worst in him. He chased, bullied, and shoved, until one spring when he learned an unforgettable lesson from an unlikely teacher--a blackbird who built a nest in his hand. The Blackbird's Nest: Saint Kevin of Ireland is the story of Kevin's transformation into one of Ireland's best-loved saints (AD-618), revered in many Christian traditions. Written with simplicity and humor by Jenny Schroedel, and brought to life with stunning illustrations by Douglas Montross, The Blackbird's Nest is a rich, vibrant tale of renewal and a welcome addition to children's lenten literature.

Early Christianity and Ancient Astrology (Hardcover): Tim Hegedus Early Christianity and Ancient Astrology (Hardcover)
Tim Hegedus
R2,426 R2,044 Discovery Miles 20 440 Save R382 (16%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Early Christianity and Ancient Astrology explores a variety of responses to astrology, the most popular form of divination among early Christians in Greco-Roman antiquity. After a brief overview of ancient astrological theory and a survey of polemical responses to it, this book documents instances in which early Christian writers and communities incorporated astrology positively into their beliefs and practices. This study is of interest to students of early Christianity and of Greco-Roman religion and to those concerned with interfaith relations or with issues of Christian unity and diversity. It is particularly recommended for use in courses on the history of Christianity and on the religions of Greco-Roman antiquity.

Thoughts on Francis of Assisi (Hardcover, New edition): Latifah Troncelliti Thoughts on Francis of Assisi (Hardcover, New edition)
Latifah Troncelliti
R1,791 Discovery Miles 17 910 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Francis's forma vitae for the Fratres Minores, the original rule for the Franciscan Order, was meant to establish peace and equality among people who worked together in a community, yet each using his own particular talent: an ideal that had a short life. At Francis's death, Pope Gregory IX took the opportunity to use Francis's popularity in order to satisfy his political ambition. Despite the protest of Francis's closest brothers and sisters, the ones who had shared the true experience of the order during his life, the Pope changed Francis's forma vitae into something more palatable and useful to the Church. The Franciscan Order became a tool for the Church to reassert control on every issue and in every situation regarding spirituality, religious dogmas, the position of women in society, and material possession. Many of these issues had never been on Francis's agenda. While making Francis a famous saint with a spectacular canonization, at the same time the Church ignored Francis's original and revolutionary concept often deeply opposed to the Church's politics. Thoughts on Francis of Assisi illustrates with historical details the Franciscan Order's makeover devised by the Catholic Church after Francis's death. The Franciscan Order was never what Francis had created. Thoughts on Francis of Assisi is essential reading for graduate course in History, Religious Studies, and Italian Studies.

Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security Policy - Normalisation and Acceptance after the Cold War (Hardcover, New):... Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security Policy - Normalisation and Acceptance after the Cold War (Hardcover, New)
Andrew Futter
R4,657 Discovery Miles 46 570 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book examines the transformation in US thinking about the role of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) in national security policy since the end of the Cold War. The evolution of the BMD debate after the Cold War has been complex, complicated and punctuated. As this book shows, the debate and subsequent policy choices would often appear to reflect neither the particular requirements of the international system for US security at any given time, nor indeed the current capabilities of BMD technology. Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security Policy traces the evolution of policy from the zero-sum debates that surrounded the Strategic Defense Initiative as Ronald Reagan left office, up to the relative political consensus that exists around a limited BMD deployment in 2012. The book shows how and why policy evolved in such a complex manner during this period, and explains the strategic reasoning and political pressures shaping BMD policy under each of the presidents who have held office since 1989. Ultimately, this volume demonstrates how relative advancements in technology, combined with growth in the perceived missile threat, gradually shifted the contours and rhythm of the domestic missile defence debate in the US towards acceptance and normalisation. This book will be of much interest to students of missile defence and arms control, US national security policy, strategic studies and international relations in general.

"De Doctrina Christiana" - A Classic of Western Culture (Hardcover): Duane W. H. Arnold, Pamela Bright "De Doctrina Christiana" - A Classic of Western Culture (Hardcover)
Duane W. H. Arnold, Pamela Bright
R1,426 Discovery Miles 14 260 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This volume is the result of an international conference held at the University of Notre Dame in 1991 in which leading scholars - classicists, medievalists, theologians, philologists, rhetoricians, literary critics, and philosophers - gathered to focus on one of the most remarkable and influential books of late antiquity, Augustine's "De Doctrina Christiana". Contributors to this volume place the historical setting of "De Doctrina Christiana" within the context of contemporary scholarship and explore its theological meaning and impact on Western culture and Christian education. The essays cover the field of current Augustinian studies, starting with the historic setting of late antiquity in which "De Doctrina Christiana" was written. They then examine the work itself, its literary structure and interpretative and theological significance, how it was received by later patristic writers, and how it has been used as an authoritative source in contemporary times. A bibliography facilitates further study.

The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity (Hardcover): Paul M. Blowers The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity (Hardcover)
Paul M. Blowers; Translated by Paul M. Blowers
R4,359 Discovery Miles 43 590 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

A genuine renaissance is presently underway in the study of biblical interpretation and biblical culture in the early Christian age. The profundity and complexity of the early Christians engagement with Holy Scripture, in theology, in ecclesial and liturgical life, in ethics, and in ascetic and devotional life, are providing a rich resource for contemporary discussions of the Bible's ongoing "afterlife" within ecumenical Christian communities and contexts.

The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity is a collection of wide-ranging essays on the influence of the Bible in numerous and varied aspects of the life of the Greek-speaking churches during the first four centuries. Essays appear under the general themes of (I) The Bible as a Foundation of Christianity; (II) The Bible in Use among the Greek Church Fathers; (III) The Bible in Early Christian Doctrinal Controversy; (IV) The Bible and Religious Devotion in the Early Greek Church. Individual essays probe topics as diverse as the use of the Bible in early Christian preaching and catechesis, appeals to Scripture in the conflicts between Jews and Christians, pagan use of Scripture against the Church, and the Bible's influence in early Christian art, martyrology, liturgical reading, pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and ascetical life.

Much of the volume constitutes a translation, revision, and adaptation of essays originally presented in the French volume Le monde grec ancien et la Bible (1984), Volume 1 of the series Bible de Tousles Temps. Four new studies appear, however, including an introductory essay on Origen of Alexandria as a guide to the biblical reader, and two essays on the biblical culture of early Eastern Christianmonasticism.

The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity comes as an international project, the work of French, Swiss, Australian, and now Canadian and American scholars. It will be useful to students of early Christianity and the history of biblical interpretation, and will also serve as a useful introduction to the many dimensions of the reception of the Bible in the early Church.

We have no king but Christ - Christian Political Thought in Greater Syria on the Eve of the Arab Conquest (c.400-585)... We have no king but Christ - Christian Political Thought in Greater Syria on the Eve of the Arab Conquest (c.400-585) (Hardcover, New)
Philip Wood
R3,905 Discovery Miles 39 050 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Drawing on little-used sources in Syriac, once the lingua franca of the Middle East, Philip Wood examines how, at the close of the Roman Empire, Christianity carried with it new foundation myths for the peoples of the Near East that transformed their self-identity and their relationships with their rulers. This cultural independence was followed by a more radical political philosophy that dared to criticize the emperor and laid the seeds for the blending of religious and ethnic identity that we see in the Middle East today.

Festal Orations (Paperback): J St Festal Orations (Paperback)
J St
R426 R395 Discovery Miles 3 950 Save R31 (7%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days
The Origin of Heresy - A History of Discourse in Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity (Hardcover): Robert M. Royalty The Origin of Heresy - A History of Discourse in Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity (Hardcover)
Robert M. Royalty
R4,932 Discovery Miles 49 320 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Heresy is a central concept in the formation of Orthodox Christianity. Where does this notion come from? This book traces the construction of the idea of 'heresy' in the rhetoric of ideological disagreements in Second Temple Jewish and early Christian texts and in the development of the polemical rhetoric against 'heretics,' called heresiology. Here, author Robert Royalty argues, one finds the origin of what comes to be labelled 'heresy' in the second century. In other words, there was such as thing as 'heresy' in ancient Jewish and Christian discourse before it was called 'heresy.' And by the end of the first century, the notion of heresy was integral to the political positioning of the early orthodox Christian party within the Roman Empire and the range of other Christian communities. This book is an original contribution to the field of Early Christian studies. Recent treatments of the origins of heresy and Christian identity have focused on the second century rather than on the earlier texts including the New Testament. The book further makes a methodological contribution by blurring the line between New Testament Studies and Early Christian studies, employing ideological and post-colonial critical methods.

The City of God (De Civitate dei), Vol. 7, Part I - Books 11 - 22 (Hardcover): Edmund Augustine The City of God (De Civitate dei), Vol. 7, Part I - Books 11 - 22 (Hardcover)
Edmund Augustine; Edited by Boniface Ramsey; Translated by William Babcock
R1,696 R1,399 Discovery Miles 13 990 Save R297 (18%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Along with his Confessions, The City of God is undoubtedly St. Augustine's most influential work. In the context of what begins as a lengthy critique of classic Roman religion and a defence of Christianity, Augustine touches upon numerous topics, including the role of grace, the original state of humanity, the possibility of waging a just war, the ideal form of government, and the nature of heaven and hell. But his major concern is the difference between the City of God and the City of Man - one built on love of God, the other on love of self. One cannot but be moved and impressed by the author's breadth of interest and penetrating intelligence. For all those who are interested in the greatest classics of Christian antiquity, The City of God is indispensable. This long-awaited translation by William Babcock is published in two volumes, with an introduction and annotation that make Augustine's monumental work approachable. Books 11-22 offer Augustine's Christian view of history, including the Christian view of human destiny. The INDEX for Books 1-22 (both volumes of The City of God) is contained in this edition.

Medieval Women on Sin and Salvation - Hadewijch of Antwerp, Beatrice of Nazareth, Margaret Ebner, and Julian of Norwich... Medieval Women on Sin and Salvation - Hadewijch of Antwerp, Beatrice of Nazareth, Margaret Ebner, and Julian of Norwich (Hardcover, New edition)
Mary Lou Shea
R2,243 Discovery Miles 22 430 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Hadewijch of Antwerp (c.1200?-1240), Beatrice of Nazareth (1200-1268), Margaret Ebner (1291-1351), and Julian of Norwich (1343-1416/19) are best known for their mystical experiences and literary styles. Medieval Women on Sin and Salvation explores the reality that these women understood their encounters in primarily theological categories. It is well documented that Anselm of Canterbury's 1098 Cur Deus Homo was quickly and widely adopted by late medieval religious men. Given the deeply relational, somewhat unconventional, yet clearly orthodox interpretations of Anselm's theory expressed by Hadewijch, Beatrice, Margaret, and Julian, it would seem that nuns, beguines, and devout lay women were compelled by the same understanding of Atonement as the priests, monks, brothers, and lay men of the era. Unable to offer academic theological treatises, given the constraints of their age, these women managed to convey, through their writings, profoundly theological insights into the crucial Christian concepts of the natures of soul and sin, the Fall, and the Incarnation and its benefits, both for God and for humanity. This book offers valuable new insights and is suitable for upper division undergraduate classes and graduate courses in the history of Christianity/Medieval Christianity, theology, spirituality, and women's studies.

The Grotesque Body in Early Christian Discourse - Hell, Scatology and Metamorphosis (Hardcover): Istvan Czachesz The Grotesque Body in Early Christian Discourse - Hell, Scatology and Metamorphosis (Hardcover)
Istvan Czachesz
R4,480 Discovery Miles 44 800 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Early Christian apocryphal and conical documents present us with grotesque images of the human body, often combining the playful and humorous with the repulsive, and fearful. First to third century Christian literature was shaped by the discourse around and imagery of the human body. This study analyses how the iconography of bodily cruelty and visceral morality was produced and refined from the very start of Christian history. The sources range across Greek comedy, Roman and Jewish demonology, and metamorphosis traditions. The study reveals how these images originated, were adopted, and were shaped to the service of a doctrinally and psychologically persuasive Christian message.

Cassian's Conferences - Scriptural Interpretation and the Monastic Ideal (Hardcover, New Ed): Christopher J Kelly Cassian's Conferences - Scriptural Interpretation and the Monastic Ideal (Hardcover, New Ed)
Christopher J Kelly
R4,918 Discovery Miles 49 180 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This book explores Cassian's use of scripture in the Conferences, especially its biblical models to convey his understanding of the desert ideal to the monastic communities of Gaul. Cassian intended the scriptures and, implicitly, the Conferences to be the voices of authority and orthodoxy in the Gallic environment. He interprets familiar biblical characters in unfamiliar ways that exemplify his ideal. By imitating their actions the monk enters a seamless lineage of authority stretching back to Abraham. This book demonstrates how the scriptures functioned as a dynamic force in the lives of Christian monks in the fourth and fifth centuries, emphasizes the importance of Cassian in the development of the western monastic tradition, and offers an alternative to the sometimes problematic descriptions of patristic exegesis as "allegory" or "typology". Cassian has been described as little more than a provider of information about Egyptian monasticism, but a careful reading of his work reveals a sophisticated agenda to define and institutionalize orthodox monasticism in the Latin West.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
Biblical Perspectives on Aging - God and…
J.Gordon Harris Paperback R1,823 Discovery Miles 18 230
Topics in Number Theory - In Honor of B…
Scott D. Ahlgren, George E. Andrews, … Hardcover R1,542 Discovery Miles 15 420
Cornelius the Dragon
Nadine Rake Hardcover R498 R466 Discovery Miles 4 660
UNIVERSAL BANKING IN THE TWENTIETH…
Alice Teichova, Terry Gourvish, … Hardcover R3,885 Discovery Miles 38 850
Scanning and Editing your Old Photos in…
Heather Morris Paperback R373 R330 Discovery Miles 3 300
Liutex and Its Applications in…
Chaoqun Liu, Hongyi Xu, … Paperback R2,821 Discovery Miles 28 210
Our Infinite Fates
Laura Steven Paperback R320 R270 Discovery Miles 2 700
Kinesins and Cancer
Frank Kozielski, FSB Hardcover R4,780 R3,635 Discovery Miles 36 350
The Scale and Impacts of Money…
Brigitte Unger Hardcover R3,184 Discovery Miles 31 840
Practising Strategy - A Southern African…
Peet Venter, Tersia Botha Paperback  (7)
R755 Discovery Miles 7 550

 

Partners