Divine Incomprehensibility and Human Faith in John Chrysostom
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeSearch for other papers by Robert G.T. Edwards in
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Abstract
Although often considered a moralist, John Chrysostom frequently discusses the incomprehensibility of God. This paper both contextualizes his teaching on divine incomprehensibility within a pro-Nicene tradition and demonstrates what is particular to his own theology. It puts forward two major arguments. First, Chrysostom expands upon a pro-Nicene discourse of divine incomprehensibility – as also seen in Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus – to include not only the incomprehensibility of God’s essence but also the incomprehensibility of God’s economies. Second, Chrysostom’s apparently simplistic biblicism and doctrine of faith are in fact theological corollaries of this doctrine of divine incomprehensibility. In these ways, Chrysostom’s moral teaching is seen to have a robust theological basis.
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Divine Incomprehensibility and Human Faith in John Chrysostom
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeSearch for other papers by Robert G.T. Edwards in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Although often considered a moralist, John Chrysostom frequently discusses the incomprehensibility of God. This paper both contextualizes his teaching on divine incomprehensibility within a pro-Nicene tradition and demonstrates what is particular to his own theology. It puts forward two major arguments. First, Chrysostom expands upon a pro-Nicene discourse of divine incomprehensibility – as also seen in Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus – to include not only the incomprehensibility of God’s essence but also the incomprehensibility of God’s economies. Second, Chrysostom’s apparently simplistic biblicism and doctrine of faith are in fact theological corollaries of this doctrine of divine incomprehensibility. In these ways, Chrysostom’s moral teaching is seen to have a robust theological basis.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 612 | 72 | 3 |
| Full Text Views | 72 | 5 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 215 | 17 | 1 |
