Cover

Preface

Table of Contents

I. The Middle- and Neoplatonic Tradition

Mauro Bonazzi: Middle Platonists on the Eternity of the Universe

I. The Old Academics and Middle Platonistson the Eternity of the Universe

II. Middle Platonists and the Hellenistic Debate

Sarah Klitenic Wear: The Position and Function of the Demiurge in Syrianus’s Cosmos

I. Introduction

II. Syrianus on the Cosmic Place of the Demiurge

III. The Demiurge and the Paradigm

IV. The Demiurge and the Hypostasis Soul, World Soul

V. The Demiurge and Psychic Life

VI. Conclusion

Lorenzo Ferroni: Proclus, in Timaeum, II, 340.14–341.24 Diehl. Some Textual Remarks

I. Ab Ernesto Diehl, of course, incipiendum

II. A Word on the Manuscript Tradition

III. An Appreciation of Diehl’s Critical Edition

Appendix. An Italian Translationof the Discussed Proclus Passage

Gerd Van Riel: How Can the Perceptible World be Perceptible? Proclus on the Causes of Perceptibility

II. The Christian Tradition

David C. DeMarco: Basil of Caesarea’s Exegesis of the Heavens in Homiliae in hexaemeron 3

I. The Structure of Homily 3

II. Synthesis

Appendix: Outline of Homily 3

Volker Henning Drecoll: The Use of Scripture in Basil’s Homilies in Hexaemeron

I. The Use of Biblical Quotations – Some Formal Observations

II. No Allegory, Please

III. The Deeper Sense

Samuel Pomeroy: Representing the Jews: John Chrysostom’s Use of Exegetical and Theological Traditions for Gen 1:26a (In Gen. hom. 8)

I. Introduction

II. Patristic Authors and the ‘Jewish’ Exegesis of Gen 1:26a

1. Prooimium and Exegesis in In Gen. hom. 8

2. Views Prior to Basil of Caesarea

3. Basil’s Hexaemeron

4. John Chrysostom, Basil, and the Sources of Pro-Nicene Theology

III. Contextual Concerns: Syrian Biblical Exegesis

1. Immediate Circle

2. Other Texts

3. Targumic Circle

IV. Conclusion

David L. Dusenbury: Judaic Authority in Nemesius of Emesa’s De natura hominis (390 CE)

I. Hellenic, Judaic, and Christian Scripturesin De natura hominis § 42

II. ‘Words of Moses’ in the De natura hominis

1. Moses and the Wisdom of the Demiurge

2. Moses and the Shock of Recognition

3. Moses and the Harmony of Reason

4. Moses and the Generation of Souls – by Way of Eunomius of Cyzicus

III. ‘Doctrines of the Hebrews’ in the De natura hominis

1. The Hebrews and Bodily Immortality – by Way of Theophilus of Antioch

2. ‘A Doctrine of the Hebrews’ – by Way of Psalm 104

3. The Hebrews and creatio ex abysso – by Way of Apollinaris of Laodicea

4. The Hebrews and True Divination – by Way of Pythagoras Palaestinus

IV. Conclusions

Benjamin Gleede: Christian Apologetics or Confessional Polemics? Context and Motivation of Philoponus’ De opificio mundi

Paul M. Blowers: From Nonbeing to Eternal Well-Being: Creation ex nihilo in the Cosmology and Soteriology of Maximus the Confessor

I. Maximus and the Polyvalence of Creation ex nihilo

1. First Principles of Creation ex nihilo in Maximus

2. The “Nothing” from which the Creator Creates

II. Maximus on the Logos and Mythos of Creation ex nihilo

1. Making Something of Nothing: Logos and Logoi

2. Maximus’s Refreshed Mythos of the “Recapitulation” of Creationin Jesus Christ

3. Creatio ex nihilo et continua: The Logos’s Relentless and Enduring Actionin the World

III. Conclusion

Clement Kuehn: Christ Hero. An Epic Commentary on Creation

Introduction

I. Lady in Distress

II. Sailing

III. Strange Lands and Stranger Creatures

IV. Offspring and Divine Assistance

V. Enemies and Battles

VI. The Bride

Conclusion

Dimitrios Zaganas: The Debate on Gen 1:1–3 According to Anastasius Sinaita’s Hexaemeron

I. Debating the Principle(s)

1. Greeks and Christians on the Origin of the World (Gen 1:1a)

2. Anastasius of Sinai and Michael Psellus: Two Different Accounts of a CommonSource

3. The Making of a Fictitious Debate

II. Debating the Elements

1. Heaven and Earth

2. Light and Fire

3. Darkness and Light

III. Conclusion: Anastasius Between Reportingand Creating Debates and Aporias

III. Some Other Voices

Gregory E. Sterling: “The Most Perfect Work”: The Role of Matter in Philo of Alexandria

I. Two Principles

II. A Description of Matter

III. Five Presuppositions

IV. Conclusion

Claudio Moreschini: Calcidius between Creatio Ex Nihilo and Platonism

I. Creatio ex nihilo and Christian Thought

II. Calcidius

III. Calcidius’ Sources

IV. Chronology of Calcidius and Hosius

V. An Outline of Calcidius’ Platonism

VI. The Platonic Christian Calcidius

VII. Calcidius’ Christianity

VIII. The Platonic and Christian Calcidius

Gerard P. Luttikhuizen: Gnostic Views on the Origin and the Nature of the Universe

I. The Meta-Cosmic Realm of the True God

II. The Origin of the Demiurge and his Demonic World

III. The Lower World

IV. The Relationship between Greek Philosophicaland Biblical-Jewish Influences

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Ancient Texts and Authors

Index of Biblical References

Old Testament

New Testament