This volume is the first critical edition of the theological fragments of Asterius of Cappadocia, the so-called Arian Sophist, who lived in the early fourth century.
The first part of the volume provides an introduction to the theological thought of Asterius, an important member of the "Eusebians." It also compares the theological thought of Asterius with Origen's and Arius' theology. The second part consists of the 77 theological fragments of Asterius of Cappadocia with a German translation.
In the third part a commentary is given for each fragment explaining the content, the language...

Until now the period following the Council of Nicea has remained a dark age of early Christian history. This is partly due to the fact that Eusebius' last and important works, Contra Marcellum and De Ecclesiastica Theologia, have not sufficiently been studied. Comparatively little interest has also been given to the Pseudo-Athanasian text Contra Arianos IV. Careful study and comparison of these works against the background of the post-Nicene debate between Asterius, Marcellus, Eusebius and Photinus, has revealed that (as A. Stegmann already proposed in 1917) Contra...

Marcellus of Ancyra (ca. 285/290 - ca. 374) was one of the prominent bishops who fought against the Eusebians at the council of Nicaea. After this council, he was the first to attack them, and especially Asterius of Cappadocia. Only fragments of his work were preserved. These fragments, together with a letter which he wrote in 341 to Julius of Rome, the only undisputed works of Marcellus, are collected in this volume.
The book opens with an introduction, contains the edition with German translation, notes and indices.
In contrast to the former editions of Marcellus' works, this edition...

These essays propose a new dating of, and historical setting for the letters of "Ignatius of Antioch." In so doing this volume forms an important contribution to the study of Monarchianism and early church history as well. An examination of the fragments of Noetus of Smyrna, the founder of Monarchianism, leads to the discovery of the oldest Regula fidei, and of its origin as part of anti-gnostic polemics. On the ground of late second-century parallels, especially Melito and Irenaeus, this Regula can be dated between 160 and 180 CE. It is within this context that the so-called...

Why is the Resurrection of Christ so remote, almost non-existent in many early Christian writings of the first 140 years of Christianity? This is the first Patristic book to focus on the development of the belief in the Resurrection of Christ through the first centuries A.D. By Paul, Christ's Resurrection is regarded as the basis of Christian hope. In the fourth century it becomes a central Christian tenet. But what about the discrepancy in the first three centuries? This thought provoking book explores this core topic in Christian culture and theology. Taking a broad approach - including...