Ideas of Christian writing in late Roman Gaul
The Christianization of the educated ĂÂ©lite of Roman society in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. entailed a number of important changes in attitudes towards the written word. In particular, ideas concerning literary authorship and the use of texts developed at that time were to exercise a profound influence on subsequent European culture. This thesis is a survey of three major areas of emergent Christian literary ideology, based on close analysis of Gallic sources for the period c.350-500. Chapter One: The Christian writer as student of the Bible. The idea of a necessary relation between Christian 'sermo' and biblical 'lectio' is pursued through the works of Hilary of Poitiers and the Priscillianists, the Gallic correspondence of Jerome, and the ascetic propaganda associated with the monastic milieux of LĂÂ©rins, Aries and Marseille. Chapter Two: The Christian writer as 'editor' of the Fathers. The idea that the primary duty of the Christian intellectual was to ensure safe transmission of the doctrinal (and literary) legacy of his most esteemed predecessors is explored with reference to the writings of Prosper of Aquitaine, Cassian of Marseille and Vincent of LĂÂ©rins. Chapter Three: The Christian writer
Vessey, J. Mark
History
Ideas of Christian writing in late Roman Gaul. The Christianization of the educated ĂÂ©lite of Roman society in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. entailed a number of important changes in attitudes towards the written word. In particular, ideas concerning literary authorship and the use of texts developed at that time were to exercise a profound influence on subsequent European culture. This thesis is a survey of three major areas of emergent Christian literary ideology, based on close analysis of Gallic sources for the period c.350-500. Chapter One: The Christian writer as student of the Bible. The idea of a necessary relation between Christian 'sermo' and biblical 'lectio' is pursued through the works of Hilary of Poitiers and the Priscillianists, the Gallic correspondence of Jerome, and the ascetic propaganda associated with the monastic milieux of LĂÂ©rins, Aries and Marseille. Chapter Two: The Christian writer as 'editor' of the Fathers. The idea that the primary duty of the Christian intellectual was to ensure safe transmission of the doctrinal (and literary) legacy of his most esteemed predecessors is explored with reference to the writings of Prosper of Aquitaine, Cassian of Marseille and Vincent of LĂÂ©rins. Chapter Three: The Christian writer
ideas christian write late roman gaul educate lite roman_society fourth fifth_century entail number_important change_attitude towards write_word particular idea concern literary authorship use text develop time exercise profound_influence subsequent european culture survey three_major area emergent christian literary ideology base close_analysis gallic source period christian writer student bible idea necessary relation christian biblical lectio pursue work gallic correspondence ascetic propaganda associate monastic milieu christian writer editor fathers idea primary duty christian intellectual ensure safe transmission doctrinal literary legacy predecessor explore reference writing prosper christian writer