Overview

An independent teacher, based in Alexandria throughout the second half of the fourth century, Didymus appealed to many within the broadly Origenist currents of Egyptian asceticism, including Jerome, Rufinus, and Evagrius. His commentaries, lecture-notes, and theological treatises show him specifically committed to the legacy of Origen and Philo, rather than a broader 'Alexandrian' or noetic reading of Scripture. Yet his concern was not to answer classic 'Antiochene' critique but rather offer a faithful continuation of many aspects of Origen's thought and exegesis, now made consistent with the broader anti-subordinationist developments in Nicene faith from the 350s onwards. In doing so he made virtue a primary category of reality, human existence, and life, in ways that go beyond the traditional philosophical tropes. This 'turn to virtue' draws parallels with wider fourth-century trends but it sets Didymus' own Origenism apart from those of other Origenists, such as Eusebius of Caesarea or Evagrius of Pontus. Thus detailed discussion focuses on Didymus' portrayal of virtue, sin, and passion, which together form the constant hermeneutical terrain for his anagogical exegesis and exhortation to a dynamic process of ascent. Speculative comments of Origen on the pre-existence of the soul, salvation of the devil, pre-passion, and the sin of Adam are shown to be reframed, both to aid the individual's navigation of the return to virtue and to answer the challenge of contemporary Manichaean and Apollinarian beliefs.

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9780198747895

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The Vision of Didymus the Blind offers an important contribution to the rehabilitation of this controversial fourth-century author. ... Bayliss' study offers a fruitful reading of Didymus as an urban ascetic teacher developing a particular trajectory in Origen's legacy amidst the complex context of the late fourth century. This book will prove helpful for any future studies of Didymus, late antique exegesis or theological anthropology. * Adam Ployd, Scottish Journal of Theology *

Accounts of the oft-forgotten can serve us well in two distinct ways: first, they may cast light upon an overlooked or misperceived figure or incident and, in so doing, alert us to that to which we were inattentive. Second, they may illumine the way in which we have considered relatively common episodes in history, thereby reframing our perception of the seemingly familiar. With the help of such books, we may better look at and also look along these historical lights with renewed vision <em>The Vision of Didymus the Blind</em> offers this twofold renewal of our vision, that we might see new vistas, and also thereby see new dimensions even on familiar terrain. --<em>Reading Religion</em>

Accounts of the oft-forgotten can serve us well in two distinct ways: first, they may cast light upon an overlooked or misperceived figure or incident and, in so doing, alert us to that to which we were inattentive. Second, they may illumine the way in which we have considered relatively common episodes in history, thereby reframing our perception of the seemingly familiar. With the help of such books, we may better look at and also look along these historical lights with renewed vision The Vision of Didymus the Blind offers this twofold renewal of our vision, that we might see new vistas, and also thereby see new dimensions even on familiar terrain. --Reading Religion

Author Information

Grant Bayliss has lectured on the life and theology of the early church in both Cambridge and Oxford Universities and is currently Lecturer in Liturgy and Patristics at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford.

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