The Problem of the Devil in Cappadocian Thought

AvGabrielle Thomas

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

1 295 kr

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In The Problem of the Devil in Cappadocian Thought, Gabrielle Thomas questions the popular assumption that the devil served as the primary explanation for evil, sin, and suffering as early Christians grappled with all that is wrong in the world. Interrogating the status of the devil in the teachings of the Cappadocians - Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, and Macrina the Younger - she identifies their points of agreement, that the devil is a fallen angel, and disagreement, notably how Christ defeated him, his continued existence, and his ultimate end. In her investigation, Thomas engages fourth-century Christian thought in conversation with ancient philosophy, ancient history, classics, and biblical studies. She demonstrates how the Cappadocians negotiated myriad philosophical, theological, and spiritual problems with the devil. Thomas argues that the devil is not simply a strategy for explaining the problem of evil. Rather, the devil himself is the problem.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-06-30
Vikt:500 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:275
Förlag:Cambridge University Press
ISBN:9781009750752

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Kristendom inom Filosofi och religion

Mer om författaren

Gabrielle Thomas is Associate Professor of Early Christianity and Anglican Studies at Emory University. She is the author of The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus (2023) and For the Good of the Church: Unity, Theology, and Women (2021) and co-editor of Women and Ordination in the Orthodox Church (2020).

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'Gabrielle Thomas's most recent monograph exhibits not only scholarly boldness but also the historical and theological acumen to justify her choice of topic. Thomas's study of the Cappadocians challenges the Enlightenment narrative that the figure of the Devil was created to excuse people of moral responsibility and to vindicate God against culpability for evil. Her careful historical eye notices the place of the Devil in the fourth century theology, while her theological commitment to engaging the tradition challenges modern theologians to consider how the devil is not only the enemy against whom Christians must engage in spiritual battle but that he is every image of evil whose corruption of humanity's natural goodness is the heart of human sin.' J. Warren Smith, Professor of Historical Theology, Duke University

Innehållsförteckning

Introduction; 1. Problematizing the Devil; 2. The first fallen angel; 3. Know thine enemy by name; 4. Christ's defeat of the Devil; 5. The Church's war against the Devil; 6. Becoming diabolic; 7. The Devil in Gregory of Nyssa's homilies on the song of songs; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.