Angelomorphic pneumatology : Clement of Alexandria and other early Christian witnesses / / by Bogdan Gabriel Bucur.

• Superior document: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, v. 95
• Author: Bucur, Bogdan Gabriel.
• Year of Publication: 2009
• Language: English
• Series: Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae ; v. 95.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (268 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

This book discusses the occurrence of angelic imagery in early Christian discourse about the Holy Spirit. Taking as its entry-point Clement of Alexandria’s less explored writings, Excerpta ex Theodoto, Eclogae propheticae, and Adumbrationes, it shows that Clement’s angelomorphic pneumatology occurs in tandem with spirit christology, within a theological framework still characterized by a binitarian orientation. This complex theological articulation, supported by the exegesis of specific biblical passages (Zech 4: 10; Isa 11 : 2-3; Matt 18:10), reworks Jewish and Christian traditions about the seven first-created angels, and constitutes a relatively widespread phenomenon in early Christianity. Evidence to support this claim is presented in the course of separate studies of Revelation, the Shepherd of Hermas, Justin Martyr, and Aphrahat.

Table of Contents

Introduction -- Angelomorphic pneumatology in Clement of Alexandria -- "The other Clement" and angelomorphic pneumatology -- Prolegomena : the place of the hypotyposeis in the Clementine Corpus -- Protreptikos, paidagogos, didaskalos -- Ethics, physics, epoptics -- Physics to epoptics : ma'asse bereshīt to ma'asse merkavah -- The hypotyposeis and later orthodoxy -- Clement on divine unity and the cosmic multiplicity -- Unity and multiplicity in the logos -- Unity and multiplicity in the Spirit -- Clement's "celestial hierarchy" -- The principles of the hierarchy -- The function of the hierarchy -- Clement on the interior ascent -- Clement's theory of prophetic inspiration -- Clement's understanding of "spirit of Christ" and "Paraclete" -- "Spirit of Christ" -- "Paraclete" -- Angelic or angelomorphic pneumatology? -- Excursus: Matt. 18:10 and Clement's Protoctists -- The larger theological framework for Clement's angelomorphic pneumatology -- Binitarian monotheism in Clement of Alexandria -- Spirit christology in Clement of Alexandria -- A final look at Clement's speculations on unity and diversity -- Angelomorphic pneumatology in Clement's predecessors -- Angelomorphic pneumatology in the book of Revelation -- The "seven spirits" in Revelation and Clement's Protoctists -- Who are the "seven spirits"? -- Binitarianism and spirit Christology in Revelation -- The phenomenon of prophecy in Revelation -- Angelomorphic pneumatology in the Shepherd of Hermas -- Pneuma as an angelic being -- Pneuma as the Son of God -- Pneuma in the Fifth similitude -- Excursus: "Flesh" in the Fifth similitude -- Further clarifications on the Shepherd's angelomorphic pneumatology -- The Son of God and the angelomorphic Holy Spirit in Justin Martyr -- Difficulties with Justin Martyr's use of pneuma -- Justin Martyr on "the powers of the Spirit" -- A witness from the East : Aphrahat, the Persian Sage -- Angelomorphic pneumatology in Aphrahat -- Aphrahat's views : "many aberrations and very crass statements" -- The seven operations of the Spirit are six -- "The Spirit is not always found with those that receive it" -- An older exegetical tradition -- Cramer versus Kretschmar -- The larger theological framework for Aphrahat's angelomorphic pneumatology -- Difficulties of Aphrahat's pneumatology -- The Holy Spirit and the move from unity to multiplicity -- Excursus: "Wisdom" and "power" as pneumatological terms -- The "fragmentary" gift of the Spirit and angelomorphic pneumatology -- "The other Clement" -- Angelomorphic pneumatology and the history of Christian thought.