Description

Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity is the first major study in English of the 'heretic' Jovinian and the Jovinianist controversy. David G. Hunter examines early Christian views on marriage and celibacy in the first three centuries and the development of an anti-heretical tradition. He provides a thorough analysis of the responses of Jovinian's main opponents, including Pope Siricius, Ambrose, Jerome, Pelagius, and Augustine. In the course of his discussion Hunter sheds new light on the origins of Christian asceticism, the rise of clerical celibacy, the development of Marian doctrine, and the formation of 'orthodoxy' and 'heresy' in early Christianity.

Features

• The widely-acclaimed first full-length study of Jovinian in English, now available in paperback
• Places Jovinian's writings in the context of the history of debates about marriage and celibacy
• Sheds light on a variety of issues in late ancient Christianity, such as the rise of clerical celibacy and the origins of Marian devotion

Product Details

336 pages; ISBN13: 978-0-19-956553-5ISBN10: 0-19-956553-8

About the Author(s)