Overview
The Gnostic Trilogy is the best-known and most important work by the ascetic philosopher and teacher Evagrius of Pontus. Among the writers of his age, Evagrius stands out for his short, perplexing, and absorbing aphorisms, which provide sharp insight into philosophy, Scripture, human nature, and the natural world.The first part of the trilogy, the Praktikos (The Practiced One), provides a diagnosis and treatment of the eight tempting thoughts. It was a foundational text for monastic asceticism and was the basis for the later Seven Deadly sins tradition. The second, Gnostikos (The Knower), explains how someone who has mastered the body and mental delusions should teach others. The third, longest, and most controversial, the Kephalaia gnostika (Gnostic Chapters), ranges broadly over the origin of the universe, the nature of rational beings, and the hidden symbols of Scripture. This part was responsible for Evagrius's condemnation as a heretic and, as a result, does not survive intact in the original Greek and must be restored from ancient translations.This volume presents the Trilogy in its entirety for the first time since antiquity and provides a fresh, comprehensive English translation of all three works, in all their known ancient versions, both Greek and Syriac. Detailed explanatory notes, cross-references to Scripture, to ancient literature, and to Evagrius's other writings, as well as commentary on the translation techniques of the Syriac translators, provide the necessary resources for understanding this significant but puzzling text.
Full Product Details
Author: Robin Darling Young (Associate Professor of Church History, Associate Professor of Church History, The Catholic University of America) ,
Joel Kalvesmaki (Fellow, The Catholic University of America; Director, Fellow, The Catholic University of America; Director, Text Alignment Network) ,
Columba Stewart (Professor of Theology, Professor of Theology, St. John's University) ,
Charles M. Stang (Professor of Early Christian Thought, Professor of Early Christian Thought, Harvard Divinity School)
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:
Width: 16.50cm
, Height: 6.10cm
, Length: 22.40cm
Weight: 0.862kg
ISBN: 9780199997671
ISBN 10: 0199997675
Pages: 528
Publication Date: 01 February 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Author Information
Robin Darling Young is Associate Professor of Church History at the Catholic University of America. Joel Kalvesmaki holds a fellowship at Catholic University of America and is the director of the Text Alignment Network. Columba Stewart is Professor of Theology at Saint John's University and executive director of the Hill Museum & Manuscript library. Charles M. Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. Luke Dysinger is Professor of Church History and Moral Theology at St. John's Seminary.
