The Philosophy of the Church Fathers: Volume 1: Faith, Trinity, Incarnation, Third Revised Edition

by Harry Austryn Wolfson

Overview

Harvard University Press takes pride in publishing the third edition of a work whose depth, scope, and wisdom have gained it international recognition as a classic in its field. Harry Austryn Wolfson, world-renowned scholar and most lucid of scholarly writers, here presents in ordered detail his long-awaited study of the philosophic principles and reasoning by which the Fathers of the Church sought to explain the mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation.

Professor Wolfson first discusses the problem of the relation of faith and reason. Starting with Paul, who, differentiating between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world, averred that he was not going to adorn his teachings with persuasive arguments based on the wisdom of the world, Professor Wolfson describes the circumstances and influences which nevertheless brought about the introduction of philosophy into matters of faith and analyzes the various attitudes of the Fathers towards philosophy.

The Trinity and the Incarnation are Professor Wolfson’s next concern. He analyzes the various ways in which these topics are presented in the New Testament, and traces the attempts on the part of the Fathers to harmonize these presentations. He shows how the ultimate harmonized formulation of the two doctrines was couched in terms of philosophy; how, as a result of philosophic treatment, there arose with regard to the Trinity the problem of three and one and with regard to the Incarnation the problem of two and one; and how, in their attempts to solve these problems, the Fathers drew upon principles which in philosophy were made use of in the solution of certain aspects of the problem of the one and the many. In the final part of this volume, entitled “The Anathematized,” he deals with Gnosticism and other heresies which arose during the Patristic period with regard to the Trinity and the Incarnation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674665514
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1970
Series:	His Structure and Growth of Philosophic Systems from Plato to Spinoza, 3
Edition description:	Third revised edition
Pages:	668
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 8.75(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Harry Austryn Wolfson was Nathan Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy, Emeritus, Harvard University.

Table of Contents

PART 1: FAITH AND REASON

CHAPTER 1: "THE WISDOM OF Gon" AND "THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD"

CHAPTER 2: THE ALLEGORICAL METHOD

A. Background of Paul's Allegorical Interpretation

B. The Allegorical Interpretation in the Church Fathers

CHAPTER 3: SCRIPTURAL PRESUPPOSITIONS

CHAPTER 4: HANDMAIDEN OF SCRIPTURE

CHAPTER 5: SINGLE FAITH THEORIES

A. Tertullian

B. Origen

CHAPTER 6: DOUBLE FAITH THEORY

A. The Aristotelian "Faith" and Stoic "Assent"

B. Clement of Alexandria

C. Augustine

PART 2: THE TRINITY, THE LOGOS, AND THE PLATONIC IDEAS

CHAPTER 7: ORIGIN OF THE TRINITARIAN FORMULA

CHAPTER 8: THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE PREEXISTENT CHRIST

CHAPTER 9: THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE BEGETTER OF JESUS

CHAPTER 10: THE Locos AS THE PRbEXISTENT CHRIST

CHAPTER 11: THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE LOGOS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

CHAPTER 12: THE DIFFERENTIATION OF THE LOGOS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. The Twofold Stage Theory of the Logos

B. The Single Stage Theory of the Logos

C. The Holy Spirit

CHAPTER 13: THE Locos AND THE PLATONIC IDEAS

PART 3: THE THREE MYSTERIES

CHAPTER 14: THE MYSTERY OF THE GENERATION

CHAPTER 15: THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY

A. The Problem and Its Two Solutions

B. The Two Solutions in Origen and Tertullian

C. The Two Solutions in Basil

D. The Two Solutions in John of Damascus and Augustine

E. Sundry Analogies

CHAPTER 16: THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

A. Two Natures and One Person

B. Five Types of Physical Union

C. Orthodox Use of the Analogies of Physical Union

D. Unorthodox Use of the Analogies of Physical Union

E. Duality of Wills and Operations

PART 4: THE ANATHEMATIZED

CHAPTER 17: GNOSTICISM

A. Verbal Christianizing of Paganism

B. Cerinthus

C. Simon

D. Other Gnostic Systems

E. Gnosticism and Philosophy

CHAPTER 18: HERESIES

A. The Logical Basis of the Heresies

B. Heresies with Regard to the Preexistent Christ

C. Heresies with Regard to the Born Christ

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

INDEX OF REFERENCES

INDEX OF SUBJECTS, NAMES, AND TERMS

Editorial Reviews

This large and handsome volume will be welcomed as an impressive addition to the study of the Church Fathers and a major contribution to estimating the philosophical presuppositions which underlie their treatment of the problems connected with the Trinity and the Incarnation. Dr. Wolfson comes equipped for his formidable task not only by his knowledge of ancient philosophy but also in particular as the author of a special study of Philo and his influence upon the thought of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The Journal of Theological Studies - J. E. L. Oulton

The new book of Dr. Wolfson is a welcome contribution to the study of Christian antiquity and of the history of Christian thought. The strength of Dr. Wolfson is in his skilful analysis and his comprehensive erudition. He has a perfect command of the primary sources, and handles them with competence and discretion.

Religion in Life - The Very Rev. Georges Florovsky

Obviously, no summary can begin to do justice to an encyclopedic work where every word is measured. We have concentrated on one aspect of a work that is at once an indispensable tool for the theologian, philosopher, classicist and historian of ideas.

Midstream - Gerson D. Cohen

No one can open [The Philosophy of the Church Fathers] at any point without gaining a better understanding of what the fathers were saying in the philosophical language of their times. It is a great book.

Classical Philology - Robert M. Grant

The new book of Dr. Wolfson is a welcome contribution to the study of Christian antiquity and of the history of Christian thought. The strength of Dr. Wolfson is in his skilful analysis and his comprehensive erudition. He has a perfect command of the primary sources, and handles them with competence and discretion.
— The Very Rev. Georges Florovsky

Religion in Life

This large and handsome volume will be welcomed as an impressive addition to the study of the Church Fathers and a major contribution to estimating the philosophical presuppositions which underlie their treatment of the problems connected with the Trinity and the Incarnation. Dr. Wolfson comes equipped for his formidable task not only by his knowledge of ancient philosophy but also in particular as the author of a special study of Philo and his influence upon the thought of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
— J. E. L. Oulton

The Journal of Theological Studies

Obviously, no summary can begin to do justice to an encyclopedic work where every word is measured. We have concentrated on one aspect of a work that is at once an indispensable tool for the theologian, philosopher, classicist and historian of ideas.
— Gerson D. Cohen

Midstream

No one can open it at any point without gaining a better understanding of what the fathers were saying in the philosophical language of their times. It is a great book.
— Robert M. Grant

Classical Philology