The Problem of the Devil in Cappadocian Thought

Gabrielle Thomas, an Anglican priest, is Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and Professor of Early Christian, Anglican, and Theological Studies at Yale Divinity School. She is the author of The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus and For the Good of the Church: Unity, Theology, and Women and co-editor of Women and Ordination in the Orthodox Church.

'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

• 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.