Philip Melanchthon and the Cappadocians: A Reception of Greek Patristic Sources in the Sixteenth Century (Refo500 Academic Studies (R5as)) (German Edition) (Refo500 Academic Studies, 16)

This work offers a comprehensive examination of how Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) -- a great philologist, pedagogue, and theologian of the Reformation -- used Greek patristic sources throughout his extensive career. The Cappadocian Fathers (here identified as Gregory Thaumaturgus, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzen, and Gregory of Nyssa) were received through the medieval period to be exemplary theologians. In the hands of Melanchthon, they become tools to articulate the Evangelical-Lutheran theological position on justification by grace through faith alone, the necessity of formal education for theologians in literature and the natural sciences, the freedom of the will under divine grace, exemplars for bishops and even princes, and (not least) as models of Attic Greek grammar and biblical exegesis for university students. The book is organized around Melanchthon's use of Cappadocian works against his opponents: Roman Catholic, the Radical Reformers, the Reformed, and in Intra-Lutheran controversies. The author places Melanchthon within the context of the patristic reception of his time. Moreover, an appendix offers a sketch of the "Cappadocian canon" of the sixteenth century, with notation of the particular sources for Melanchthon's knowledge and the references to these works in modern scholarly sources. While often accused by his critics (past and present) of being arbitrary in his selection of patristic authorities, too free with his quotations, and too anxious for theological harmony, this work shows Melanchthon "at work" to reveal the consistent manner and Evangelical-Lutheran method by which he used patristic material to proclaim "Christ and his benefits" throughout his multifaceted career. Cover Title Page Copyright Acknowledgements and Dedication Table of Contents Body Introduction The Cappadocian Fathers Identified The Serpent and the Cross Chapter 1: Melanchthon's Understanding of Patristic Authority 1. Introduction 2. The Patristic Revival of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 2.1 On Humanism and Scholasticism 2.1.1 Christian Humanist and the Reformation 3. Melanchthon: “Between” Humanism and Reform? 3.1 Melanchthon and Erasmus 3.2 Melanchthon and Luther 4. Melanchthon and Patristic Authority 5. Melanchthon's Method for Reading Patristic Sources 5.1 Melanchthon and History 5.2 Melanchthon's Understanding of Tradition 5.3 The Necessary Distinction between the Law and the Gospel 5.4 The Interplay between Gospel, Scripture, and Tradition 6. Toward Greater Clarity Concerning Key Phrases and Concepts 6.1 Consensus Antiquitatis 6.2 Scriptores puriores 6.3 Chain of Teachers 6.4 The Church as a School 6.5 A Theological Grammar 7. Why the Cappadocians? Chapter 2: Melanchthon and Greek Patristic Sources 1. Introduction 2. Greek Patristic Sources in Italy: Byzantine Editors and Translators 2.1 The Aldine Press 3. Christian Humanism in German Universities 3.1 University of Heidelberg 3.2 University of Tübingen 3.3 University of Wittenberg 3.3.1 Greek and Rhetoric at Wittenberg 4. Melanchthon's Education and Early Career 4.1 Early Education 4.2 Melanchthon's University Education 4.3 Professor of Greek and Rhetoric and Student of Theology 5. Melanchthon's Patristic Lectures and Knowledge of Cappadocian Material 6. Melanchthon's Evaluation of Basil and Gregory Nazianzen 6.1 De Ecclesia et De Autoritate Verbi Dei, 1539 6.1.1 Criticisms of the Cappadocians 6.2 De Basilio Episcopo, 1545 6.3 Postilla, On Basil, 1555/1549 6.4 De Gregorio Nazianzeno, 1558 6.5 Images of Melanchthon Associated with the Basil and Nazianzen 6.5.1 Melanchthon and Basil; Cranach the Younger, 1559 6.5.2 Melanchthon and Gregory Nazianzen; Cranach Workshop, 1560 7. Conclusion Chapter 3: Use of the Cappadocians Against the Radical Reformers 1. Introduction 2. The Radical Reformers 2.1 The Zwickau Prophets 3. Theological Criticisms of Radicalism 3.1 On the Merit of Theological Studies: The Unity of Church and Academy 3.2 A Defense of Philosophy and the Natural Science 3.3 Cappadocians as Exemplary Learned Theologians 4. Melanchthon against the Anti-Trinitarians 4.1 Defense of “Logos” as “Word” 4.1.1 Biblical Testimony 4.1.2 The Patristic Testimony 5. Cappadocian References to Christological and Trinitarian Doctrines in Didactic Works 5.1 Augmented Sections in Subsequent Editions of the Loci Communes 5.1.1 The Loci Communes, 1535 5.1.2 The Loci Communes, 1543 5.1.3 Heubtartikel Christlicher Lere, 1553 6. Defense of Christological and Trinitarian Formulations in Other Works 6.1 On the Divinity of the Holy Spirit Proven through Baptism 6.2 The Holy Spirit at Creation 7. Conclusion Chapter 4: Use of the Cappadocians against Roman Catholic Arguments 1. Introduction 2. The Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith Alone 2.1 Appeals to St. Paul and St. Augustine 3. St. Basil on Grace 3.1 Melanchthon and St. Basil on Justification 4. On Bishops and Councils 4.1 On the Power of the Papacy 4.2 Basil on Episcopal Oversight 4.3 Basil as Model for the Princes 4.4 Gregory Nazianzen on Councils 5. Melanchthon on Basil's Confrontation with the Emperor 6. On Monasticism 7. On the Eucharist and the Sacrifice of the Mass 7.1 The Liturgies of Sts. Basil and John Chrysostom 7.2 Melanchthon's Appeals to the Greek Canon 8. Conclusion Chapter 5: Use of the Cappadocians against the Reformed and in Intra-Lutheran Conflicts 1. Introduction 2. Melanchthon's Study of the Cappadocians in the Eucharistic Debates 3. Melanchthon's Citation of the Cappadocians in the Debate Over Free Will 3.1 The Loci communes of 1543 4. Melanchthon's Citation of St. Basil in the Controversy over Grace 5. Melanchthon's Citation of St. Gregory Nazianzen in the Controversy over Grace 5.1 The Controversy over Grace during the Augsburg Interim (1548) 6. Melanchthon's Appeals to St. Gregory Nazianzen for the Virtue of Forgiveness 7. Conclusion Appendix: The Reception of Cappadocian Texts in the Sixteenth Century 1. Introduction 2. The Cappadocians: Formation of an Image 2.1 Oration 43 of Gregory Nazianzen 3. The Cappadocians in Early Hagiographies and Church Histories 3.1 Eusebius of Caesarea, Historia ecclesiastica 3.2 St. Jerome, De viris illustribus 3.3 Rufinus of Aquileia, Historia ecclesiastica 3.4 Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 3.5 Sozomen, Historia ecclesiastica 3.6 Theodoret of Cyrrhus and Cassiodorus 3.7 Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend 4. Feast Day 5. The Cappadocian Canon: History of Text Reception in the Sixteenth Century 5.1 Modern Studies in the Textual Reception of Cappadocian Material 5.2 Gregory Thaumaturgus and Gregory of Nyssa 5.3 Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzen 5.4 The Wittenberg University Catalogue of 1536 6. Patristic Anthologies in the Sixteenth Century Abbreviations Index Back Cover This Work Offers A Comprehensive Examination Of How Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) Used Greek Patristic Sources Throught His Extensive Career. It Is Organized Around Melanchthon's Use Of Cappadocian Works Against His Opponents: Roman Catholic, The Radical Reformers, The Reformed, And In Intra-lutheran Controversies. The Author Places Melanchthon Within The Context Of The Patristic Reception Of His Time. Moreover, An Appendix Offers A Sketch Of The Cappadocian Canon Of The Sixteenth Century, With Notation Of The Particular Sources For Melanchthon's Knowledge And The References To These Works In Modern Scholarly Sources. While Often Accused By His Critics Of Being Arbitrary In His Selection Of Patristic Authorities, Too Free With His Quotations, And Too Anxious For Theological Harmony, This Work Shows Melanchthon At Work To Reveal The Consistent Manner And Evangelical-lutheran Method By Which He Used Patristic Material To Proclaim Christ And His Benefits Throughout His Multifaceted Career--back Cover. Melanchthon's Understanding Of Patristic Authority -- Melanchthon And Greek Patristic Sources -- Use Of The Cappadocians Against The Radical Reformers -- Use Of The Cappadocians Against Roman Catholic Arguments -- Use Of The Cappadocians Against The Reformed And In Intra-lutheran Conflicts -- Appendix: The Reception Of Cappadocian Texts In The Sixteenth Century. H. Ashley Hall. With One Figure. Revision Of Author's Thesis (ph. D.)--fordham University, 2009. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This work offers a comprehensive examination of how Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) used Greek patristic sources throughout his extensive career. It is organized around Melanchthon's use of Cappadocian works against his opponents: Roman Catholic, the Radical Reformers, the Reformed, and in Intra-Lutheran controversies. The author places Melanchthon within the context of the patristic reception of his time. Moreover, an appendix offers a sketch of the "Cappadocian canon" of the sixteenth century, with notation of the particular sources for Melanchthon's knowledge and the references to these works in modern scholarly sources. While often accused by his critics of being arbitrary in his selection of patristic authorities, too free with his quotations, and too anxious for theological harmony, this work shows Melanchthon "at work" to reveal the consistent manner and Evangelical-Lutheran method by which he used patristic material to proclaim "Christ and his benefits" throughout his multifaceted career--Back cover