The church in the age of Constantine : the theological challenges

Book Cover......Page 1
Half-Title......Page 2
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
List of abbreviations......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 12
Map showing the spread of Christianity over the antique world......Page 15
The Great Turn......Page 18
The chronological frame......Page 19
Contextualisation......Page 20
The agents of contextualisation......Page 25
The Christians and the Roman Empire and society......Page 28
Ethical standards and group morality......Page 33
Connecting with philosophical themes......Page 36
Responding to religious feelings and needs......Page 39
Introduction......Page 43
The reform by the last pagan emperors and its failure......Page 44
Politics and religion in Constantine......Page 51
The Christianisation of public life......Page 58
Introduction: three voices......Page 62
Lactantius......Page 65
Eusebius of Caesarea......Page 69
Athanasius of Alexandria......Page 80
Conclusions......Page 84
Introduction: two tracks of investigation......Page 86
The critical theological situation in the east and its causes......Page 88
The Council of Nicaea and its aftermath (324–40)......Page 96
Development of Christological reflection (341–53)......Page 103
Breakdown and resurgence of the Nicene Party (353–63)......Page 113
Retrospective view on the period 324–63: evidences of contextualisation......Page 123
Introduction to the last decades and the emperors (364–97)......Page 131
The final phase of the Arian struggle; the external events (364–82)......Page 134
The final phase of the Arian struggle; doctrinal results......Page 140
The reception of the Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople; its ecumenical status......Page 155
New trends in the relationship between the Church and the Emperor......Page 159
Christianity beyond the Roman borders......Page 169
The prime of ascetic and monastic life......Page 176
Liturgical life and Christian commitment......Page 182
Epilogue......Page 196
Notes......Page 201
Selected bibliography......Page 231
Index of notions, persons and places......Page 234
Index of patristic references......Page 242