When Mortals Become Sinners: Tertullian Grappling with the Delphic Maxim
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Karl Olav Sandnes
Abstract
Tertullian is known for his opposition against the Greek philosophical legacy. What about the Delphic maxim then? The main text of this paper is Apologeticum, but texts from De anima, De carne Christi and Ad nationes are also addressed. Allusions and some few quotations of the maxim are identified. Since Christians know truth, they are involved in issues pertaining to the maxim. Actually, it is among them that the full meaning of knowing oneself is found. The nothingness of human beings, so central to the maxim, is embodied in the act of praying wherein God is acknowledged as God and humbly addressed by human beings. Christian faith deepens the insights of the maxim, particularly by proclaiming human beings as sinners.
Abstract
Tertullian is known for his opposition against the Greek philosophical legacy. What about the Delphic maxim then? The main text of this paper is Apologeticum, but texts from De anima, De carne Christi and Ad nationes are also addressed. Allusions and some few quotations of the maxim are identified. Since Christians know truth, they are involved in issues pertaining to the maxim. Actually, it is among them that the full meaning of knowing oneself is found. The nothingness of human beings, so central to the maxim, is embodied in the act of praying wherein God is acknowledged as God and humbly addressed by human beings. Christian faith deepens the insights of the maxim, particularly by proclaiming human beings as sinners.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
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Part 1: Introductory Chapters
- The Delphic Maxim Interpreted: Aims, Scope, and Significance of the Present Study 1
- Ancient Self-Knowledge: Exploring Some of the Scholarly Debates 21
- Interpretations and Echoes of the Delphic Maxim in Pre-Christian Greek Philosophy 55
- “Know Your Text”: the Integrity and Interpretation of Alcibiades m. 133c8–17 85
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Part 2: Main Chapters
- Philo of Alexandria and the Transitory and Apophatic Dimensions of Knowing Oneself 125
- Seneca: Knowledge of Self and Nature 159
- Plutarch: Know God and Know Yourself 211
- Know Your Exceptionality. The Delphic Maxim Know Yourself in Epictetus 231
- Between Self-Knowledge and Self-Enjoyment: ΓΝѠθΙ ϹAYTON in the Skeleton Mosaic from beneath the Monastery of San Gregorio 269
- Self-Knowledge as Alienation and Unification in the Hermetica 293
- Self-Knowledge and the Hidden Kingdom: The Delphic Maxim in the Manuscripts of Gos. Thom. 3 319
- What does it Mean to be Human? The Delphic Maxim in Irenaeus 337
- Know Yourself in Clement of Alexandria: Self-Knowledge, God-Knowledge and the Transformation of Self 365
- When Mortals Become Sinners: Tertullian Grappling with the Delphic Maxim 385
- A Maxim of Greek Philosophy Found in Scripture: “Know Yourself” in Origen and Reflections in Gregory of Nyssa 423
- Jesus Knowing Himself: Origen and the Gospel of John 473
- Plotinus on the Delphic Maxim: Knowing and Being One’s True Self 505
- Knowing Yourself as an Essential Part of Origen’s Teaching According to Gregory Thaumaturgus 527
- Forged in the Community of Divine Love: Augustine’s Quest through the Maxim of Self-Knowledge for Finite Wholeness within the Infinite God 569
- Author Index 595
- Index of biblical and classical sources 603
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
-
Part 1: Introductory Chapters
- The Delphic Maxim Interpreted: Aims, Scope, and Significance of the Present Study 1
- Ancient Self-Knowledge: Exploring Some of the Scholarly Debates 21
- Interpretations and Echoes of the Delphic Maxim in Pre-Christian Greek Philosophy 55
- “Know Your Text”: the Integrity and Interpretation of Alcibiades m. 133c8–17 85
-
Part 2: Main Chapters
- Philo of Alexandria and the Transitory and Apophatic Dimensions of Knowing Oneself 125
- Seneca: Knowledge of Self and Nature 159
- Plutarch: Know God and Know Yourself 211
- Know Your Exceptionality. The Delphic Maxim Know Yourself in Epictetus 231
- Between Self-Knowledge and Self-Enjoyment: ΓΝѠθΙ ϹAYTON in the Skeleton Mosaic from beneath the Monastery of San Gregorio 269
- Self-Knowledge as Alienation and Unification in the Hermetica 293
- Self-Knowledge and the Hidden Kingdom: The Delphic Maxim in the Manuscripts of Gos. Thom. 3 319
- What does it Mean to be Human? The Delphic Maxim in Irenaeus 337
- Know Yourself in Clement of Alexandria: Self-Knowledge, God-Knowledge and the Transformation of Self 365
- When Mortals Become Sinners: Tertullian Grappling with the Delphic Maxim 385
- A Maxim of Greek Philosophy Found in Scripture: “Know Yourself” in Origen and Reflections in Gregory of Nyssa 423
- Jesus Knowing Himself: Origen and the Gospel of John 473
- Plotinus on the Delphic Maxim: Knowing and Being One’s True Self 505
- Knowing Yourself as an Essential Part of Origen’s Teaching According to Gregory Thaumaturgus 527
- Forged in the Community of Divine Love: Augustine’s Quest through the Maxim of Self-Knowledge for Finite Wholeness within the Infinite God 569
- Author Index 595
- Index of biblical and classical sources 603
