The Theology of the Ancient Christians

Zusatztext

Now available in English for the first time, this volume presents a comprehensive account of the formation of Christian thought from its origins through the Council of Chalcedon. Eschewing a traditional "history of dogma" that views doctrine as a linear progression toward a fixed orthodoxy, Emanuela Prinzivalli and Manlio Simonetti adopt a historical-critical methodology that emphasizes the pluralistic nature of early belief. The central thesis posits that early Christian theology is not a monolithic entity but a series of diverse responses to the Mediterranean cultural milieu, shaped by the tension between Jewish roots and Hellenistic philosophy. The authors organize their findings by tracking the evolution of Trinitarian and Christological debates, alongside the development of anthropology. Geographically, the work spans the major intellectual hubs of the Roman Empire, meticulously contrasting the exegetical traditions of Alexandria and Antioch. Temporally, it covers the Patristic era's most volatile period, from the 1st to the 5th century. The book's primary academic contribution lies in its theoretical framework of "unity in diversity". The authors demonstrate how the solidification of the creed was the result of intense conflict and regional variation rather than a predetermined evolution. By situating theological development within its sociopolitical context, the text remains an essential resource for understanding how early heresiology functioned not just as a tool of exclusion, but as a catalyst for intellectual refinement. Designed as a narrative synthesis that also serves as a textbook, the volume guides readers through the full arc of patristic thought. Thus, the authors provide a rigorous, unsentimental account of how a fringe Jewish sect transformed into the complex theological infrastructure of the late antique world.

Autorenportrait

Jonathan Farrugia (Herausgegeben von) Born 1978; 2016 PhD at Institutum Patristicum "Augustinianum"; 2018 resident lecturer at the University of Malta; Associate Professor and Head of Department of Church History, Patrology and Palaeochristian Archaeology at the University of Malta. Emanuela Prinzivalli (Von (Autor)) Born 1956; 1987 PhD at Sapienza Università di Roma; Professor Emerita at Sapienza Università di Roma. Manlio Simonetti (Von (Autor)) (19262017) Emeritus Professor at Sapienza Università di Roma; Member of the Accademia dei Lincei.

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