J Van Oort
Biographic Data
| ID | 1482243 |
|---|---|
| NAME | J Van Oort |
| GIVEN NAMES | J |
| FAMILY NAME | Van Oort |
| SIGNATURE | VAN OORT J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Pretoria |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2337-7217 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 50 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 50 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1991 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Augustine on Israel and Jerusalem
This essay is written in view of the heartbreaking crisis in the Middle East, especially the terrible Gaza war. What did the influential (and for many still authoritative) church father Augustine think about Israel and Jerusalem? From his entire oeuvre, the texts in which he discusses Israel and Jerusalem have been examined. The conclusion is that he considers their material significance to be of only temporary value: he emphasises their “spiritu…
“God” in Augustine’s Confessions
When reading through Augustine’s Confessions , one notices a striking variety of descriptions of God. The aim of this paper is to discern and – as far as possible – to interpret these various descriptions. Our main focus will be on pivotal texts from Books 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7. They document how much Manichaean views played a part in Augustine’s quest, and how closely this quest was linked to his ideas about evil. Briefly stated, Augustine’s search w…
Black and slave? ‘Mestizo’ Augustine on Ham
After discussing the so-called Ham myth in South Africa, my focus is on the African church father Augustine (354–430). All texts from his immense oeuvre in which he mentions biblical Ham are reviewed in chronological order. In Against Faustus , the story of Noah and his sons is mainly explained as being Christological: Ham figures as a type of the unbelieving Jews who consented to the murder of Christ, but he is also a type of the Jews because he…
A Note on “substomachans” (Augustine, conf. 3.21)
This brief note explains the curious word “ substomachans ” in conf . 3.21 from the Manichaean background of both Monnica’s bishop and Augustine. Based on this explanation, the note proposes a new translation of the phrase in which “ substomachans ” occurs. The interpretation offered seems to be backed by Julian of Eclanum’s use of “ substomachans ”. In essence, “ substomachari ” refers to the “ ructare ” during the Manichaeans’ daily ritual meal…
Monnica’s Bishop and the “filius istarum lacrimarum” (conf. 3,21)
Augustine is known as “the son of tears.” This essay searches for the meaning of this expression. Based on conf . 3,21, first the background of the African bishop who spoke the winged words is analysed. Not only had he once been handed over to the Manichaeans as an oblate, but he had also become acquainted with their writings. Especially from this experience he gives his advice to Monnica: her son will come to the right insight legendo , i.e. by …
Augustine and the Jews: Overview and Open Questions
The essay discusses the main topics of ‘Augustine and the Jews.’ It opens with the question where, according to Augustine, the name ‘Jew’ comes from. It then proceeds to his use of the designations ‘Hebrew’ and ‘Israelite’ parallel (and partly in contrast) to ‘Jew.’ Mainly according to The City of God a brief biblical history of the Jews is outlined. Augustine’s theological valuation of the Jews turns out to be partly positive, but mainly negativ…
Augustine’s Spirituality: Gnostic-Manichaean and Catholic Spirituality in Augustine’s Confessions
This essay reviews the two types of spirituality present in Augustine’s Confessions : on the one hand his former Manichaean-Christian belief and its practices, on the other hand his newly won Catholic-Christian mindset. More than ever thought, throughout the Confessions both forms of spirituality appear to be engaged in a breath-taking dialogue. Many examples of this unexpected discourse are given in the course of this exposition covering the ent…
“Manichaeology”: Origin and Development of the Study of a Gnostic World Religion
The article provides a survey of the development of Manichaean studies over the past 450 years. Since the last few decades in particular, one may speak of “Manichaeology” as a new and rapidly developing new discipline of the human sciences. This survey and critical assessment aims to introduce into the discipline, at the same time stressing the recurrent discussion about the importance of Iranian and/or (Jewish-)Christian elements as the core of …
Manichaeism and Early Christianity: Selected Papers from the 2019 Pretoria Congress and Consultation
Manichaeism and Early Christianity comprises the selected papers from the 2019 Pretoria Congress and Consultation. The sixteen chapters focus on where and how Gnostic Manichaeism interfered not only with other forms of Gnosticism, but above all with the writings and representatives of mainstream Christianity during the early centuries of our era. Key texts dealt with are a number of Nag Hammadi writings (including the Gospel of Thomas) as well as…
Tyconius’ Apocalypse Commentary, Its Reconstruction, and Its Significance for Augustine’s Doctrine of the Two Cities
The present article deals with Roger Gryson’s reconstruction of Tyconius’ lost Commentary on the Apocalypse ( CCL 107A), his subsequent French translation of this reconstructed Commentary ( CCT 10), and the English translation Tyconius, Exposition of the Apocalypse by Francis Gumerlock, with long introduction and ample notes by David Robinson (FoC 134). After having reviewed the strenghths and weaknesses of each of these publications, the article…
Manichaean Imagery of Christ as God's Right Hand
The article examines the conspicuous references to God's 'Right Hand' in Manichaeism by analysing texts from both Western and Eastern sources. The analysed texts prove that the eye-catching imagery (directly or indirectly) refers to Christ. Perhaps this imagery of Christ as God's Right Hand also had its place in Manichaean art. The article aims to function as background for a subsequent study of Augustine's portrayal of Christ as manus or dextera…
Misisti manum tuam ex alto: Manichaean Imagery of Christ as God's Hand in Augustine's Confessions
The article first explores Augustine's conspicuous references to 'God's Hand' in his Confessions by presenting a fresh translation and brief commentary of the relevant texts. In the commentary special attention is given to the possible signifiance of these texts to (former) Manichaean readers. It is concluded that Augustine's eye-catching imagery is not only inspired by biblical language and-in all likelihood-by predecessors in the Christian trad…
Manichaean Women in a Pseudo-Augustinian Testimony: An Analysis of the North African Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus
The article analyses the rather unknown and understudied Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus. This Pseudo-Augustinian text has come down to us in two Latin manuscripts (one from Saint Gervais, Paris; the other from a Vatican codex) and interestingly elucidates the place and role of women among the Manichaeans of Roman Africa. Differences between the mss lead to the conclusion that, in all likelihood, the text underwent some 'masculinisation' i…
Another Case of Human Semen Eucharist Among the Manichaeans
The article focuses on a neglected passage in Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechesis vi in which he speaks of the curious Manichaean 'ceremony of the fig'. After providing the Greek text and a fresh translation of Cat. vi,33, an analysis is given of its contents. Noting that Cyril seems to have been well acquainted with those books of the Manichaeans (in all likelihood Mani's Treasure) in which the myth of the Seduction of the Archons was told, I provid…
Human Semen Eucharist' Among the Manichaeans
Starting from his De haeresibus 46,9-10, the present article examines Augustine's contention that, among the Manichaeans, there was a certain ceremony in which human semen (i.e., sperma and menstrual fluid) was collected and consumed during a eucharistic rite. My contextual analysis of the pivotal passage, haer. 46,9-10, is followed by an overview of scholarly opinions on this text. From here I proceed to interpret the incriminated rite in light …
Manichaean Women in Augustine's Life and Works
The study of women in Manichaeism is still in its infancy. The present article aims to contribute to this promising field of research by concentrating on the writings of the former Manichaean Augustine (354-430). A considerable number of data emerge from his works, which elucidate the presence and role of Manichaean women in Roman North Africa. It turns out that, at quite different stages of his life, Augustine came into contact with female Manic…
Augustine's Manichaean Dilemma in Context
This article describes the study of 'Augustine and Manichaeism' in context, mainly focusing on the recent book on the theme (the first one of a projected trilogy) by Jason David BeDuhn
Manichaean Christians in Augustine's Life and Work
The article aims to give an overall overview of St Augustine's attitude towards the Gnostic-Christian Manichaeans. First, a historical overview, mainly based on his Confessions, outlines Augustine's acquaintance with the members of the Manichaean Church and his familiarity with their writings. Second, the place of the Manichaeans in a considerable number of Augustine's other works is discussed. It is in particular in his many anti-Manichaean writ…
Augustinus en de Joden: Een inleidend overzicht
The article explores how Augustine of Hippo (354-430) deals with the Jews and Judaism. First it investigates the occurrence and meaning of the word Iudaeus in Augustine s works. It turns out that Augustine, unlike many a predecessor, does not make a sharp distinction between Hebrew , Israelite , and Jew . Mainly on the basis of The City of God the role of the Jews in history is discussed. According to Augustine, all true believers (even those liv…
Manichaeism: Its sources and influences on Western Christianity
The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it will discuss the origins of Manichaeism, a gnostic-Christian world religion that was founded by the prophet Mani (216-276). My discussion of the origins of Manichaeism may serve as an excellent example to illustrate what Gnosis or Gnosticism actually was. Second, the paper will outline how Manichaeism, being an alternative form of Christianity and even an alternative Christian Church, seemed to have exe…
Gnostica, Judaica, Catholica. Collected Essays of Gilles Quispel
Email: [email protected] This volume brings together a rich and varied collection of essays by Gilles Quispel (19162006), Professor of the History of the Early Church at Utrecht University from 1951 until his retirement in 1983. During his illustrious career, Professor Quispel was also visiting Professor at Harvard University in 1964/65, and visiting Professor at the Catholic University of Leuven from 1969 until 1974. The fifty essays collected…
Chapter Twenty-Two. The study of encratism: A historical survey
This chapter begins with an introduction on the legendary life of Erik Peterson. His views on Encratism were mainly expounded in short and obscure articles, which may be summarized for the younger generation in the following way: (1) baptism, Jewish and Greek; (2) baptism and concupiscence; and (3) the origins of Christian asceticism. The chapter then discusses Encratism in Greek Christianity and in Aramaic Christianity. Latin Christianity in Afr…
The Young Augustine's Knowledge of Manichaeism: An Analysis of the Confessiones and Some Other Relevant Texts
Mainly on the basis of an analysis of the relevant passages in the Confessiones, this article argues: 1. that already the young Augustine, during his years as a Manichaean Hearer, acquired a thorough knowledge of Manichaeism; 2. that he obtained this thorough knowledge by his own reading and studying of Mani's and other Manichaean works. Moreover, it is argued that, in all likelihood, Augustine's Confessiones testify to the existence in the Latin…
Biblical Interpretation in the Patristic Era, A 'Handbook of Patristic Exegesis' and Some Other Recent Books and Related Projects
During the past ten years several books in the field of patristic exegesis have been published and some major projects have started. The aim of this article is to provide an introduction to this noticeably new trend of research and to evaluate some results
Secundini Manichaei Epistula: Roman Manichaean ‘Biblical’ Argument in the Age of Augustine
No prominent works on this page.
Prosopographie chretienne du Bas-Empire. I: Prosopographie de l'Afrique chretienne (303-533)
The «Augustinus-Lexikon
Augustinus-Lexikon
Jerusalem and Babylon. A Study into Augustine's "City of God" and the Sources of His Doctrine of the Two Cities
This book provides a new introduction to Augustine's City of God and his doctrine of the two cities, sources of this doctrine in Manichaeism, (Neo)Platonism and the pre- Augustinian Jewish and Jewish-Christian traditions
The Ethics of St. Augustine
De moribus ecclesiae catholicae et de moribus Manichaeorum" "De quantitate animae" di Agostino d'Ippona
De utilitate credendi/Uber den Nutzen des Glaubens
De Genesi contra Manichaeos" "De Genesi ad litteram liber imperfectus" di Agostino d'Ippona
Manichaica Selecta. Studies Presented to Professor Julien Ries on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday
Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China
Die Argumentation in den griechischchristlichen Antimanichaica
Augustin und der Manichäismus
Manis kosmogonische Sabuhragan-Texte. Edition, Kommentar und literaturgeschichtliche Einordnung der manichaisch-mittelpersischen Handschriften M 98/99 I und M 7980-7984
Jewish Lore in Manichaean Cosmogony. Studies in the 'Book of Giants' Traditions
A work entitled the of figures in every list of the Manichaean canon preserved from antiquity. Both the nature of this work and the intellectual baggage of the third-century Persian prophet to whom it is ascribed remained unknown to scholars until 1943, when fragments of several Middle Iranian versions of the Book of Giants were published by W. B. Henning. Twenty-eight years later, J. T. Milik discovered several copies of a fragmentary Aramaic wo…
"Van Amersfoort and Van Oort, "Juden und Christen in der Antike
Psaumes des errants. Ecrits manicheens du Fayyum
Gnosis und Manichaismus. Forschungen und Studien zu Texten von Valentin und Mani sowie zu den Bibliotheken von Nag Hammadi und Medinet Madi
The Spirit of God. The Exegesis of 1 and 2 Corinthians in the Pneumatomachian Controversy of the Fourth Century
This volume provides a fascinating insight into the way that the theological concerns of two important fourth-century Greek Christian authors, Athanasius and Basil of Caesarea, shaped their exegesis of Scripture as they sought to explicate tha nature and status of the Holy Spirit
Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East
Auctoritas Patrum II: Neue Beitrage Zur Rezeption der Kirchenvater im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert / (New Contributions on the Reception of the Church Fathers in the 15th and 16th Centuries)
Studies in Early Christology
Zur Literatur und Geschichte des fruhen Christentums. Gesammelte Aufsatze
Mosaique et culture dans l'Occident romain
Ancient Christianity in the Caucasus
La Place de Jerusalem dans la de la Georgie, M. van Esbroek Das Tempelneubauprojekt Julians - eine dramatische episode in der Gerchichte der Beziehungen zwischen Christen und Juden, T. Brandle John Chrysostom and the Jews - a reconsideration, A.M. Ritter Les debuts de machisme en Palestine, P.M. Egender Armaziann script, K. Tsereteli A new manuscript of Rufinus' account of the Conversion of Georgia and the legacy of Rufinus in east and west, C.P.…
Secundini Manichaei Epistula: Roman Manichaean ‘Biblical’ Argument in the Age of Augustine
Philosophy (47 works) · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies (35 works) · Theology (34 works) · Art (29 works) · Biblical studies (29 works) · History (26 works) · Literature (21 works) · Classical Antiquity Studies (18 works) · Classics (17 works) · Linguistics and language evolution (17 works)