Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement (Oxford Early Christian Studies) - Softcover

Behr, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198800223 ISBN 13: 9780198800224

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

Synopsis

Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement examines the ways in which Irenaeus and Clement understood what it means to be human. By exploring these writings from within their own theological perspectives, John Behr also offers a theological critique of the prevailing approach to the asceticism of Late Antiquity. Writing before monasticism became the dominant paradigm of Christian asceticism, Irenaeus and Clement afford fascinating glimpses of alternative approaches. For Irenaeus, asceticism is the expression of man living the life of God in all dimensions of the body, that which is most characteristically human and in the image of God. Human existence as a physical being includes sexuality as a permanent part of the framework within which males and females grow towards God. In contrast, Clement depicts asceticism as man's attempt at a godlike life to protect the rational element, that which is distinctively human and in the image of God, from any possible disturbance and threat, or from the vulnerability of dependency, especially of a physical or sexual nature. Here human sexuality is strictly limited by the finality of procreation and abandoned in the resurrection. By paying careful attention to these two writers, Behr offers challenging material for the continuing task of understanding ourselves as human beings.

About this title

About the Author

John Behr is the Dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Patristics and Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology at Vrije Universiteit. His previous publications include Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement (2000) and Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity (OUP, 2013). He is also the co-editor of The Role of Life in Death: A Multidisciplinary Examination of Issues pertaining to Life and Death (Wipf and Stock, 2015; with C. Cunningham).

Review

"An excellent introduction for both beginning students and more seasoned faculty."-- Journal of Religion

"Behr's work demonstrates knowledge of and the respect for the complexities of the thought of both Irenaeus and Clement." Journal of Early Christian Studies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0198800223
• ISBN 13: 9780198800224
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 280