Visions of Christ: the anthropomorphite controversy of 399 CE

In the late fourth century, tales began to circulate of 'anthropomorphites' dwelling in the Egyptian desert-uneducated monks who crudely believed God to have a body. This characterization was accepted until the nineteenth-century discovery of "The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje". Al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum
Main Author: Patterson, Paul A. 1971- (Author)
Format: Print Book
Language:English
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Published: Tübingen Mohr Siebeck 2012
In: Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum (68)
Reviews:Visions of Christ. The anthropomorphite controversy of 399 CE. By Paul A. Patterson. (Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity, 68.) Pp. xi+183. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012. €49 (paper). 978 3 16 152040 2; 1436 3003 (2014) (Russell, Norman)
Series/Journal:Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum 68
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Egypt (Antiquity) / Monasticism / Christology / Anthropomorphism / Controversy / Geschichte 399
RelBib Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Religious disputations
B God (Christianity) History of doctrines Early church, ca. 30-600
B God (Christianity) Attributes
B Christian Heresies History Early church, ca. 30-600
B Egypt Church history
B Thesis
B Anthropomorphism
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Summary:In the late fourth century, tales began to circulate of 'anthropomorphites' dwelling in the Egyptian desert-uneducated monks who crudely believed God to have a body. This characterization was accepted until the nineteenth-century discovery of "The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje". Although clearly defending the 'anthropomorphites,' this text does not promote any sort of anthropomorphism. Further analysis led many scholars to conclude that what the anthropomorphites were actually defending was the legitimacy of forming images of the Incarnate Christ in prayer. However, this view fails to fully explain numerous anti-anthropomorphite writings (those of Theophilus, Jerome, Cassian, Cyril and Augustine). Taking these into account, as well as certain Nag Hammadi texts and the works of Philo, Paul A. Patterson shows that the anthropomorphites were bearers of an ancient tradition, seeking in prayer the vision of the eternal, divine body of Christ
ISBN:3161520408