Arius is widely considered to be Rowan Williams's magnum opus. Long out of print and never before available in paperback, it has been newly revised. This expanded and updated edition marks a major publishing event. Arianism has been called the "archetypal Christian heresy" because it denies the divinity of Christ. In his masterly examination of Arianism, Rowan Williams argues that Arius himself was actually a dedicated theological conservative whose concern was to defend the free and personal character of the Christian God. His "heresy" grew out of an attempt to unite traditional biblical language with radical philosophical ideas and techniques and was, from the start, involved with issues of authority in the church. Thus, the crisis of the early fourth century was not only about the doctrine of God but also about the relations between emperors, bishops, and "charismatic" teachers in the church's decision-making. In the course of his discussion, Williams raises the vital wider questions of how heresy is defined and how certain kinds of traditionalism transform themselves into heresy. Augmented with a new appendix in which Williams interacts with significant scholarship since 1987, this book provides fascinating reading for anyone interested in church history and the development of Christian doctrine.
ISBN-13: 9780802849694
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Eerdmans - William B. Publishing Company
Publication Date: 01-24-2002
Pages: 392
Product Dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.95(d)
Rowan Williams served as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012 and is now Master of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge. A Fellow of the British Academy and an internationally recognized theologian, he was previously Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford, Bishop of Monmouth, and Archbishop of Wales.
Table of Contents
|
Preface |
ix |
|
Preface to the Second Edition |
xiii |
|
Introduction: Images of a Heresy |
1 |
| Part I |
Arius and the Nicene Crisis |
|
| A |
Arius before Arianism |
29 |
| 1 |
Origins |
29 |
| 2 |
The Troubles of the Alexandrian Church I: The Melitian Schism |
32 |
| 3 |
The Troubles of the Alexandrian Church II: Bishops and Presbyters |
41 |
| B |
The Nicene Crisis: Documents and Dating |
48 |
| 1 |
The Controversy to 325 |
48 |
| 2 |
The Thalia |
62 |
| 3 |
Nicaea and After |
67 |
| C |
Conclusion |
82 |
| Part II |
Arius and Theology |
|
| A |
The Theology of Arius |
95 |
| B |
Alexandria and the Legacy of Origen |
117 |
| 1 |
Philo |
117 |
| 2 |
Clement |
124 |
| 3 |
Origen |
131 |
| 4 |
Alexandria after Origen |
149 |
| C |
Theology Outside Egypt |
158 |
| 1 |
Antioch |
158 |
| 2 |
Methodius and Eusebius |
167 |
| D |
Conclusion |
175 |
| Part III |
Arius and Philosophy |
|
| A |
Creation and Beginning |
181 |
| B |
Intellect and Beyond |
199 |
| C |
Analogy and Participation |
215 |
| D |
Conclusion |
230 |
|
Postscript (Theological) |
233 |
| Appendix 1 |
Arius since 1987 |
247 |
| Appendix 2 |
Credal Documents |
269 |
|
Notes |
281 |
|
Abbreviations |
353 |
|
Bibliography |
355 |
|
Index of Names |
371 |
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