Visions of Christ: The Anthropomorphite Controversy of 399 CE

Preface ............................................................................................... VII
Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................1
A. Problem and Thesis .............................................................................1
B. Review of Relevant Literature.............................................................2
1. Traditional Account of the Controversy...........................................3
2. Revision of the Traditional Account ................................................8
a) Drioton and The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje ............................8
b) Guillaumont ................................................................................9
c) Florovsky ..................................................................................10
d) Gould........................................................................................12
e) Clark .........................................................................................13
f) Critique of the Revision ............................................................14
3. Rethinking of the Controversy.......................................................16
a) Stewart......................................................................................17
b) Stroumsa...................................................................................19
c) Golitzin .....................................................................................20
C. Contribution of This Study ................................................................24
D. Methodology .....................................................................................25
E. Summary ...........................................................................................26
Chapter 2: Witnesses to the Anthropomorphite Controversy...28
A. Introduction.......................................................................................28
B. Theophilus of Alexandria ..................................................................29
1. Theophilus’ Writings.....................................................................30
2. Evidence of Origenism ..................................................................32
3. Theological Middle Ground...........................................................33
C. Jerome...............................................................................................35
D. John Cassian .....................................................................................38
1. Cassian and Evagrius.....................................................................38
2. ‘Pure’ Prayer .................................................................................40
3. Images of Christ in Prayer .............................................................47
4. Genesis 1:26 and the Image of God ...............................................48
E. The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje ......................................................51
F. Conclusion.........................................................................................59
Chapter 3: Witnesses to Later Anthropomorphism ....................60
A. Introduction.......................................................................................60
B. Cyril of Alexandria............................................................................61
1. Answers to Tiberius and His Companions .....................................62
2. Doctrinal Questions and Answers..................................................72
3. Letter to Calosirius........................................................................75
C. Augustine of Hippo ...........................................................................77
1. Contra epistulam fundamenti Manichaeorum ................................77
2. De Trinitate ...................................................................................78
3. Letters 147 and 148 .......................................................................80
4. De haeresibus ................................................................................83
D. Conclusion ........................................................................................90
Chapter 4: Nag Hammadi ................................................................91
A. Introduction.......................................................................................91
B. Nag Hammadi and the Anthropomorphites........................................91
C. Christ the Primordial Anthropos........................................................98
1. The Gospel of Thomas ...................................................................99
2. Eugnostos the Blessed .................................................................105
3. The Sophia of Jesus Christ ..........................................................107
4. On the Origin of the World (The Writing Without Title) ..............109
5. The Apocryphon of John ..............................................................112
6. The Teachings of Silvanus ...........................................................115
7. The Life of Aphou Revisited ........................................................116
D. Conclusion ......................................................................................118
Chapter 5: Philo of Alexandria.....................................................119
A. Introduction.....................................................................................119
B. The Middle Platonic Context...........................................................120
C. Two Visions of the Logos ...............................................................124
1. The Logos as an Aspect of God ...................................................124
2. The Logos as a Person .................................................................128
3. Anthropomorphizing of the Logos...............................................130
D. The Logos and the Double Creation of Humanity ...........................132
E. Philo and Fourth-Century Egyptian Christology..............................141
F. Conclusion.......................................................................................146
Chapter 6: Conclusion ....................................................................148
Bibliography ........................................................................................155
Index of Sources ..................................................................................167
Index of Modern Authors.....................................................................175
Index of Subjects .................................................................................177