On "Being Human" in Early Christian Thought: An Evaluation of the Theological Anthropology of 3rd to 5th c. Christianity
[Thesis]
Todd, Stephen P.
Self, Charles
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
2020
265 p.
Ph.D.
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
2020
This dissertation undertakes a comparative analysis of theological anthropology in four geographical and theological traditions in early Christianity in order to determine the consensus on what the early church believed to be essential to human nature, identity, and existence. The focus is on third to fifth century authors from the Latin, Alexandrian, Greek, and Syrian traditions, which would become the four primary Christian traditions of the first Christian millennium. The discussion examines their teachings related to six primary categories: Image and Likeness of God; Body and Soul; Human Nature; Gender, Marriage and Family; Purpose; and Passion and Virtue. Each tradition receives its own chapter in which these topics are discussed, with a final chapter containing the comparative analysis and critique.