DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

A Christian’s Guide to Greek Culture

The Pseudo-Nonnus ‘Commentaries’ on ‘Sermons’ 4, 5, 39 and 43 by Gregory of Nazianus

Pseudo-Nonnus author Jennifer Nimmo Smith translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Liverpool University Press

Published:1st Oct '01

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

A Christian’s Guide to Greek Culture cover

This insightful work explores Greek culture's impact on early Christian thought, as seen in A Christian’s Guide to Greek Culture.

In A Christian’s Guide to Greek Culture, the translated commentaries from the sixth century reveal the enduring influence of Greek thought in a world increasingly shaped by Christian beliefs. These commentaries consist of detailed explanations and glosses on classical references found in Gregory's original sermons, showcasing a unique blend of ancient wisdom and emerging Christian doctrine. Although the author employs a basic educational technique to organize the text, which may lack sophisticated literary flair, there is a clear determination and assurance in his interpretations.

While some of the information presented may be inaccurate, and the author occasionally takes liberties in rewriting texts that he struggles to comprehend, the work remains a testament to the vibrant interest in Greek learning during this period. The commentaries serve not only as a reflection of the author's intellectual engagement with Greek culture but also as an insight into how one Christian thinker viewed the relevance of this ancient knowledge amidst the rise of Christianity.

Ultimately, A Christian’s Guide to Greek Culture offers readers a captivating perspective on the intersection of faith and classical learning. It invites exploration of how Greek heritage continued to resonate within a transforming cultural landscape, providing a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of this historical moment.

Everyone interested in the Early Byzantine period will be grateful for Nimmo Smith's efforts to make this information readily available. For historians of theology these Commentaries will be a reminder that the Byzantine world was surely a Christian world, but a Christian world of which mythological tales about Heracles, Zeus, Diogenes or Dionysius were still part and parcel.

The Heythrop Journal

ISBN: 9780853239178

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 266g

192 pages