OXFORD HANDBOOK OF MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR OHBK PAPER

by Neil, Bronwen Neil (Editor)

Maximus the Confessor ( c.580-662 ) has become one of the most discussed figures in contemporary patristic studies. This is partly due to the relatively recent discovery and critical edition of his works in various genres, including On the Ascetic Life, Four Centuries on Charity, Two Centuries on Theology and the Incarnation, On the 'Our Father' , two separate Books of Difficulties , addressed to John and to Thomas, Questions and Doubts, Questions to Thalassius, Mystagogy and the Short Theological and Polemical Works .

The impact of these works reached far beyond the Greek East, with his involvement in the western resistance to imperial heresy, notably at the Lateran Synod in 649. Together with Pope Martin I (649-53 CE), Maximus the Confessor and his circle were the most vocal opponents of Constantinople's introduction of the doctrine of monothelitism. This dispute over the number of wills in Christ became a contest between the imperial government and church of Constantinople on the one hand, and the bishop of Rome in concert with eastern monks such as Maximus, John Moschus, and Sophronius, on the other, over the right to define orthodoxy. An understanding of the difficult relations between church and state in this troubled period at the close of Late Antiquity is necessary for a full appreciation of Maximus' contribution to this controversy.

The editors of this volume provide the political and historical background to Maximus' activities, as well as a summary of his achievements in the spheres of theology and philosophy, especially neo-Platonism and Aristotelianism.

Genres: Christianity

642 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2015

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Reviews

[John Hayward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished reading The Oxford Handbook of Maximus the Confessor (eds. Pauline Allen & Bronwen Neil). The chapters comprehensively span the historical milieu and biography through his theology and philosophy to his modern impact and relevance. Occasionally it presupposed too much background knowledge for the uninitiated or even made somewhat misleading claims (e.g., Catherine Kavanagh's chapter on "The impact of Maximus the Confessor on John Scottus Eriugena" at no point bothered to state when the Irish philosopher lived (815-877AD) and described his work as "the most comprehensive and intelligent attempt to understand and represent the thought of the Greek East for almost a thousand years" (p.495)! I was somewhat surprised that Joshua Lollar, in the concluding chapter, "Reception of Maximian thought in the modern era", did not note the similarity to the thought of Wolfhart Pannenberg: cf. "it is the future that gives meaning to the things of this age." (quoted by Andreas Andreopoulos, "Eschatology in Maximus the Confessor", p.327) Otherwise enriched.

[Harry Blanchard]

Paused for now

[Todd Runyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This is a great survey of a true theologian who is fruitful reading to those who love Christ! Hungry to read more works of Maximus!