Nicaea and Its Legacy: An Approach to Fourth-Century Trinitarian Theology

by Lewis Ayres

Overview

Lewis Ayres offers a new account of the most important century in the development of Christian belief after Christ. He shows how the doctrine of the Trinity was developed, and in particular argues that a conception of God's mysteriousness and spiritual progress towards understanding is central to that doctrine. He also proposes that modern theologies of the Trinity fail to appreciate the depth and power of Nicene trinitarianism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198755050
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/22/2006
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 6.28(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

Lewis Ayres is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at the Candler School of Theology and the Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University.

Table of Contents

I. Towards a Controversy1. Points of Departure2. Theological Trajectories in the Early Fourth Century I3. Theological Trajectories in the Early Fourth Century II4. Confusion and Controversy: AD 325-3405. The Creation of ‘Arianism': AD 340-350II. The Emergence of Pro-Nicene Theology6. Shaping the Alternatives: AD 350-3607. The Beginnings of Rapprochement8. Basil of Caesarea and the Development of Pro-Nicene Theology9. The East from Valens to Theodosius10. Victory and the Struggle for DefinitionIII. Understanding Pro-Nicene Theology11. On the Contours of Mystery12. ‘The First and Brightest Light'13. ‘Walk Towards Him Shining'14. ‘On Not Three Gods': Gregory of Nyssa's Trinitarian Theology15. The Grammar of Augustine's Trinitarian Theology16. In Spite of Hegel, Fire and SwordEpilogue: On Teaching the Fourth Century

Editorial Reviews

"Bold and erudite...This ambitious work justly shows how crucial the study of the fourth century is for understanding traditional or mainstream trinitarian theology, and it has succeeded already in fostering greater conversation toward this end." —Journal of Religion

From the Publisher