Wednesday 15 June 2011

Walter Dunphy: The Pelagians and Antioch

The terms ‘Pelagians’ and ‘Antioch’ are used rather than ‘Pelagianism and ‘Antiochene theology’ to avoid foisting the label Pelagian on the latter, while at the same time pointing to the fact that the Pelagians found much to support their cause in writings emanating from the school of Antioch; and for a time they were defended by individuals representing that school when the West had condemned them.  As the Pelagians attempted to rally support on the eve of Ephesus, the Antiochenes were embroiled in the Nestorian debate and seem to have lost interest in the Pelagian cause.  
The aim of this paper is to try to draw together the strands of contacts between Pelagian authors (known and anonymous) and ‘Antioch’ and to review the current status of research into the subject.  The presence of Frede’s Budapest Anonymous in Pelagius’ Expositions has become accepted, but little advance has been made in exploring contacts between that Anonymous and Ps-Rufinus (‘Liber de Fide’) or the ‘Libellus fidei’  attributed by some to Julian of Aeclanum. When in fact did the Pelagians turn to the writings of John Chrysostom? Where does Mercator’s presentation of Theodore of Mopsuestia’s involvement fit into the account?   A solution to any of the many issues involved is probably beyond our grasp, but a return of the focus on the Pelagian-Antioch connection may contribute towards advancing our understanding of the history of the Pelagian debate. 

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