Bücher der Reihe Oxford Early Christian Studies

Deification was not only a pagan concept but a metaphor for a deeply Christian view of the purpose of human life. This is the first book on the subject for over sixty years. It brings together much recent research on the Church Fathers from the second to the seventh centuries, offering an analysis of their spiritual teaching and setting it within the context of the times.

Intellectuals in antiquity and into the Middle Ages assumed that the stars were alive, and this had a great impact on philosophy, religion, and science. In the third century AD, Origen's development of this idea was not only an interesting episode in its history, but had important implications for early Christian theology.

The monasteries of the Jerusalem desert were famous throughout the Byzantine Christian world. This book provides a study of the monastic movement in Palestine during the Byzantine period, from the accession of Constantine to the fall of Jerusalem to the Persians in 614.

The ancient Dormition and Assumption traditions are the earliest accounts of the Virgin Mary's departure from this life. They first developed in the eastern Mediterranean during the early Christian period. This book presents a systematic study of these traditions and it is intended as an introduction to the earliest traditions.

The first major study in English of the 'heretic' Jovinian and the Jovinianist controversy. David G. Hunter examines early Christian views on marriage and celibacy and the development of an anti-heretical tradition. Hunter sheds new light on the origins of Christian asceticism, and the formation of 'orthodoxy' and 'heresy' in early Christianity.

How did the early Church understand the relation between grace, salvation, and the person of Christ? Donald Fairbairn's persuasive study shows that, despite intense theological controversy, there was in fact a very strong consensus in the fifth century about what salvation was and who Christ needed to be in order to save people.

John Damascene, one-time civil servant in the Umayyad Arab Empire, became a monk near Jerusalem in the eighth century. This book presents an account of John's life and work. It sets John's theological work in the context of the process of preserving, defining, defending, and celebrating the Christian faith of the early synods of the Church.

Augustine's Commentary on Galatians is his only complete, formal commentary on any book of the Bible and offers unique insights into his understanding of Paul and of his own task as a biblical interpreter. In addition to an English translation with facing Latin text, Eric Plumer provides a comprehensive introduction and copious notes.

Presenting a study of Gregory of Nyssa, this book shows how for Gregory the darkness of faith is what unites the believer with God. Through this union by faith alone, God yet speaks through the deeds and discourse of the believer. While the believer is immersed in the darkness of unknowing, they are also transformed in light.

Pelagius was at the centre of one of the most important controversies of the early Christian church. This is the first English translation of his commentary on Paul's Letter to the Romans.

Evagrius of Pontus (c.345-399) was one of the most prominent and influential figures among the monks of the desert settlements in Lower Egypt. This is a complete English translation of his writings.

Gavrilyuk reconsiders the issue of divine suffering and divine emotions in the early Church Fathers, who are commonly criticized for accepting the argument of Hellenistic philosophy that God cannot suffer or feel emotions. He shows that this view represents a misreading of the evidence.

Thecla, a disciple of the apostle Paul, became perhaps the most celebrated female saint and 'martyr' in the early church. Bringing together literary, artistic, and archaeological evidence, the author shows how the cult of Saint Thecla was especially popular among early Christian women.