The Practical Christology of Philoxenos of Mabbug

Bibliographic Data

ID20032337
AuthorsDavid A Michelson (0000-0002-9847-2166, corresponding author)
Year2014
Pages272
Publication date2014-11-06
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueThe Practical Christology of Philoxenos of Mabbug (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198722960.001.0001
OpenAlexW2497613358
ISBN9780198722960
Open LibraryOL27517236M
LanguageEN
Citations received8

Philoxenos of Mabbug (c.440–523) was a prolific late-antique theologian and polemicist who produced the largest literary corpus to have survived in Syriac. He earned a reputation as the leading Syriac opponent of the Council of Chalcedon (451) and its two-nature Christology. This book offers a new interpretation of Philoxenos’ one-nature Christology. This book explores the post-Chalcedonian doctrinal disputes through a holistic analysis of Philoxenos’ life and works. The book’s close reading of the entire Philoxenian corpus reveals a miaphysite perspective on the Christological controversies in which the intellectual clash was not primarily over defining doctrine. As a metropolitan bishop, sponsor of a revised New Testament, and monastic theologian, Philoxenos was principally concerned with matters of Christian praxis and the ascetic pursuit of divine knowledge. This book shows how he opposed Chalcedonian Christology because he was convinced its “intellectual” theological method was inimical to the mystical attainment of divine knowledge. Philoxenos’ polemical engagement drew upon a theological epistemology that he had adapted from late-Nicene theologians including Ephrem the Syrian, the Cappadocians, and Evagrius Ponticus. Philoxenos argued that divine knowledge was not to be achieved through human understanding or doctrinal inquiry. Instead, true divine knowledge was reached through practice, specifically contemplation, reading of scripture, participation in the liturgical mysteries, and ascetic discipline. In short, for Philoxenos the doctrinally recondite conflict over Christology was foremost a practical matter

Art · Asceticism · Christology · Divine Providence · Doctrine · Interpretation (philosophy) · Literature · Mysticism · Reading (process) · Theology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Historical and Linguistic Studies · Philosophy · History · Jesus christ, person and offices · Person and offices

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