Monarchianismus und Monarchie
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Wolfram Kinzig
Abstract
In this chapter, the author reappraises the thesis, championed particularly by Erik Peterson and Allen Brent, that Christian theologians used the term ‘monarchy’ to describe an analogy or correlation between God’s reign and that of earthly rulers. By contrast, the author argues that the adoption of ‘monarchy’ in Christian anti-pagan literature aimed above all at presenting God as the sole cause and ruler of the universe. In the process of the development of Christian theology, ‘monarchy’ then served in inner-Christian debate to ward off both a Christian-Gnostic dualism and a Christology which was based on the idea of a divine Logos and which was sometimes perceived as heretical. As a result the discourse on God and the cosmos was transformed into a discourse on God as God. Thus the history of this term clearly demonstrates that in the first three centuries Christians did not use ‘monarchy’ in a political context.
Abstract
In this chapter, the author reappraises the thesis, championed particularly by Erik Peterson and Allen Brent, that Christian theologians used the term ‘monarchy’ to describe an analogy or correlation between God’s reign and that of earthly rulers. By contrast, the author argues that the adoption of ‘monarchy’ in Christian anti-pagan literature aimed above all at presenting God as the sole cause and ruler of the universe. In the process of the development of Christian theology, ‘monarchy’ then served in inner-Christian debate to ward off both a Christian-Gnostic dualism and a Christology which was based on the idea of a divine Logos and which was sometimes perceived as heretical. As a result the discourse on God and the cosmos was transformed into a discourse on God as God. Thus the history of this term clearly demonstrates that in the first three centuries Christians did not use ‘monarchy’ in a political context.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort XI
-
I Texte
- Zwei neuentdeckte Predigten des Nestorios: Adversus haereticos de divina trinitate (CPG 5691) und In symbolum fidei. Edition, Übersetzung und Kommentar 1
- Die Verpflichtungserklärungen der getauften Juden von Toledo aus den Jahren 637 und 654 53
- Glauben lernen im Mittelalter 91
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II Studien
- What’s in a Creed? A New Perspective on Old Texts 117
- Monarchianismus und Monarchie 137
- Der Ursprung des römischen Glaubensbekenntnisses 161
- The Origins of the Creed of Jerusalem 189
- Herrschaft und Bekenntnis 208
- Formation des Glaubens 227
- Warum es im Glaubensbekenntnis keine Ethik gibt 263
- Das Apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis – Leistung und Grenzen eines christlichen Fundamentaltextes 286
- Literaturverzeichnis 309
- Liste der Erstveröffentlichungen 343
- Indices 345
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt VII
- Vorwort XI
-
I Texte
- Zwei neuentdeckte Predigten des Nestorios: Adversus haereticos de divina trinitate (CPG 5691) und In symbolum fidei. Edition, Übersetzung und Kommentar 1
- Die Verpflichtungserklärungen der getauften Juden von Toledo aus den Jahren 637 und 654 53
- Glauben lernen im Mittelalter 91
-
II Studien
- What’s in a Creed? A New Perspective on Old Texts 117
- Monarchianismus und Monarchie 137
- Der Ursprung des römischen Glaubensbekenntnisses 161
- The Origins of the Creed of Jerusalem 189
- Herrschaft und Bekenntnis 208
- Formation des Glaubens 227
- Warum es im Glaubensbekenntnis keine Ethik gibt 263
- Das Apostolische Glaubensbekenntnis – Leistung und Grenzen eines christlichen Fundamentaltextes 286
- Literaturverzeichnis 309
- Liste der Erstveröffentlichungen 343
- Indices 345
