Peccatrix Ecclesia: Hilary of Poitiers's De Mysteriis as Biblical Ecclesiology
This article considers Hilary of Poitiers's De mysteriis as an example of patristic reflection on the nature of the church. While it has often been recognized as an exegetical work, this treatise also provides a rare account of the biblical foundations of the church and its relation to Christ....
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
[2020]
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| In: |
Journal of early Christian studies
Year: 2020, Volume: 28, Issue: 1, Pages: 33-59 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Hilarius, Pictaviensis 315-367, Tractatus mysteriorum
/ Arian controversy
/ Ecclesiology
/ Biblical typology
/ Catechesis
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity KCC Councils NBN Ecclesiology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | This article considers Hilary of Poitiers's De mysteriis as an example of patristic reflection on the nature of the church. While it has often been recognized as an exegetical work, this treatise also provides a rare account of the biblical foundations of the church and its relation to Christ. Throughout the work, Hilary consistently relates how the Old Testament ought to be read as containing the mystery of Christ and the church. In particular, he highlights the church's sinful-yet-graced relation to Christ. The church is a sinful church what Hilary calls a peccatrix ecclesia that becomes sanctified through the church's bond with Christ the sinless bridegroom. This article furthermore situates Hilary's treatise in the context of pro-Nicene responses to the councils of Ariminum and Seleucia in 359 and the decisions made at the council of Alexandria in 362. Hilary's moderate position towards bishops who "lapsed" by subscribing to the Homoian creed at Ariminumu against the more rigorist position of someone like Lucifer of Cagliari accords with the sober reflections on the sinful makeup of the church in the De mysteriis. |
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| ISSN: | 1086-3184 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/earl.2020.0001 |