Description
Book SynopsisThis book focuses on Irenaeus as key to the early Christian appropriation of divine simplicity as a philosophical principle, since he is the first Christian source to explain his usage in relation to God. Beyond providing limits for what a simple God can and cannot mean, he also applies this principle to God’s activity (i.e. creating), and to God’s names and powers. There is a growing interest in the early Christian appropriation of divine simplicity: Simons' study is timely as the first book to focus exclusively on the earliest explanation and application.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1 Irenaeus’ Mobility and Correspondence 2 Irenaeus’ Usage of Sources 3 Structure Part 1 Divine Simplicity in Haer. 2.13 1 Theological Claims in Book 2 of Against Heresies 1 Beyond “Purely Negative Polemic”: Theological Claims in Books 1–2 2 The Rule of Truth (Haer. 1.10 and 1.22) 3 The One God Is Creator (Haer. 2.1–2) 4 God Is Simple (Haer. 2.12–13) 5 God Is Revealed in the Harmony of Scripture (Haer. 2.25–28) 6 Conclusion 2 Definition and Explanation of Divine Simplicity in Haer. 2.13 1 Haer. 2.13.3–4a: Irenaeus’ Definition of Divine Simplicity 2 Haer. 2.13.4B–10: Parameters for Language about God 3 Conclusion Part 2 Theological Implications of Divine Simplicity 3 Divine Will for Creation in the Containment Metaphor of Haer. 2.1–6 1 Spatial Meaning of “Containing, Not Contained” 2 Temporal Meaning of “Containing, Not Contained” 3 Cognitive Meaning of “Containing, Not Contained” 4 Providential Meaning of “Containing, Not Contained” 5 Conclusion 4 Divine Generation and a Simple God 1 Second-Century Descriptions of the Simple God and Divine Generation 2 Metaphors for Divine Generation in Irenaeus (Haer. 2.17.2) 3 Distinction in a Simple, Uniform, Equal, and Similar Generation 4 Conclusion 5 Divine Activity in the Hands of God Metaphor of Haer. 4.20 1 Scriptural Exegesis for the Hands of God Metaphor 2 Terminology of Divine Simplicity in the Activity of Father, Son, and Spirit 3 Two Potential Challenges to This Reading of Haer. 4.20 4 Conclusion 6 Divine Powers and Divine Titles 1 Powers, Names, and Titles of “One and the Same” God in Haer. 2.35.3–4 2 Mutually Entailing Powers of God in Creation 3 Mutually Entailing Titles and Names of God in Scripture 4 Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index
