Preaching formed one of the primary, regular avenues of communication
between ecclesiastical elites and a wide range of society. Clergy used
homilies to spread knowledge of complex theological debates prevalent
in late antique Christian discourse. Some sermons even offer glimpses
into the locations in which communities gathered to hear orators
preach. Although homilies survive in greater number than most other
types of literature, most do not specify the setting of their initial
delivery, dating, and authorship. Preaching Christology in the Roman
Near East addresses how we can best contextualize sermons devoid of
such information. The first chapter develops a methodology for
approaching homilies that draws on a broader understanding of audience
as both the physical audience and the readership of sermons. The
remaining chapters offer a case study on the renowned Syriac preacher
Jacob of Serugh (c. 451-521) whose metrical homilies form one of the
largest sermon collections in any language from late antiquity. His
letters connect him to a previously little-known Christological debate
over the language of the miracles and sufferings of Christ through his
correspondence with a monastery, a Roman military officer, and a
Christian community in South Arabia. He uses this language in homilies
on the Council of Chalcedon, on Christian doctrine, and on biblical
exegesis. An analysis of these sermons demonstrates that he
communicated miaphysite Christology to both elite reading communities
as well as ordinary audiences. Philip Michael Forness provides a new
methodology for working with late antique sermons and discloses the
range of society that received complex theological teachings through
preaching.
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A Study of Jacob of Serugh
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780192561794
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Oxford University Press Academic UK
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter