The Word in the Desert: Scripture and the Quest for Holiness in Early Christian MonasticismOxford University Press, 1993 M02 4 - 352 pages The growing scholarly attention in recent years to the religious world of late antiquity has focused new attention on the quest for holiness by the strange, compelling, often obscure early Christian monks known as the desert fathers. Yet until now, little attention has been given to one of the most vital dimensions of their spirituality: their astute, penetrating interpretation of Scripture. Rooted in solitude, cultivated in an atmosphere of silence, oriented toward the practical appropriation of the sacred texts, the desert fathers' hermeneutic profoundly shaped every aspect of their lives and became a significant part of their legacy. This book explores the setting within which the early monastic movement emerged, the interpretive process at the center of the desert fathers' quest for holiness, and the intricate patterns of meaning woven into their words and their lives. |
Contents
Approaches to the Word in the Desert | 105 |
The Word Realized | 179 |
Epilogue | 297 |
Biblical Texts Cited in Coteliers Greek Text and in Modern Translations of the Sayings | 301 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abba action anger Antony appears approach ascetical asceticism asked attention attitude authority become biblical biblical texts brother cell century Christ Christian church clear collection commandment concerns conversation culture demons desert fathers disciples early monastic effect Egypt Egyptian elders evidence example experience expression freedom give Gospel Greek hear heard heart hermeneutic History holiness humility important indicates influence interpretation John judge judgment keep kind language late living Macarius meaning meant monasticism monks movement noted one’s original pagan particular person Poemen possible practice prayer present Press questions reading realized recitation reference reflect regarding response reveals Sayings Scrip Scripture seen sense showed significant silence simply someone sometimes soul speak spiritual story struggle suggests tells Testament things thoughts tion told took tradition understanding words written
References to this book
The Letters of St. Antony: Monasticism and the Making of a Saint Samuel Rubenson Limited preview - 1995 |
The Qur'ân's Self-Image: Writing and Authority in Islam's Scripture Daniel Madigan No preview available - 2001 |