Athanasius and Constantius
Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire
Published on 16. March 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
364 pages
978-0-674-00549-5 (ISBN)
Description
As the high-ranking Bishop of Alexandria from 328 to 373, Athanasius came into conflict with no fewer than four Roman emperors-Constantine himself, his son Constantius, Julian the Apostate, and the "Arian" Valens. In this new reconstruction of Athanasius's career, Timothy D. Barnes analyzes the nature and extent of the Bishop's power, especially as it intersected with the policies of these emperors.
Repeatedly condemned and deposed by church councils, the Bishop persistently resurfaced as a player to contend with in ecclesiastic and imperial politics. Barnes's work reveals that Athanasius's writings, though a significant source for this period, are riddled with deliberate misinterpretations, which historians through the ages have uncritically accepted.
Untangling longstanding misconceptions, Barnes reveals the Bishop's true role in the struggles within Christianity, and in the relations between the Roman emperor and the Church at a critical juncture.
Repeatedly condemned and deposed by church councils, the Bishop persistently resurfaced as a player to contend with in ecclesiastic and imperial politics. Barnes's work reveals that Athanasius's writings, though a significant source for this period, are riddled with deliberate misinterpretations, which historians through the ages have uncritically accepted.
Untangling longstanding misconceptions, Barnes reveals the Bishop's true role in the struggles within Christianity, and in the relations between the Roman emperor and the Church at a critical juncture.
Reviews / Votes
Barnes's contribution to late Roman studies has been of the first importance. He often plays the role of devil's advocate, scrutinizing our preconceptions about the period and provoking us to think again about issues of central importance... Barnes has provided us with another masterpiece of historical reconstruction. A lucid narrative is supported by appendices and notes so detailed that they take up more than one-third of the book... No review can really do Barnes's work justice and it is impossible not to admire its richness... At a time when such studies are unfashionable, it is good to know that they have a defender of remarkable calibre. -- Mark Humphries * Classical Review * An indispensable chart for the tricky waters of fourth-century history. [Barnes] has written another classic. -- John F. Drinkwater * The Historian *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge, Mass
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
none
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-674-00549-5 (9780674005495)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Timothy D. Barnes is Professor of Classics at the University of Toronto.
Content
Preface Chronology of Athanasius' Career and Writings Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Bishop Alexander 3. Athanasius and Constantine: History and Apologia 4. A Journey to Cappadocia 5. Arhanasius in Rome 6. Julius and Marcellus 7. The Intervention of Constans 8. The Council of Serdica 9. Athanasius and the Martyrs of Adrianople 10. Return to Alexandria 11. The Condemnation of 349 and Its Context 12. The Usurpation of Magnentius 13. Sirmium, Ark, and Milan 14. Apologia, Polemic, and Theology 15. New Theological Controversies 16. The Homoean Creed 17. The Elder Statesman 18. The Emperor and the Church, 324-361 19. Bishops and Society 20. Epilogue Appendices 1. TheFestal Letters 2. The Composition of the Defense against the Arians 3. TheDefense before Constantius 4. The Date of On the Council of Nicaea