In the late fourth century, tales began to circulate of 'anthropomorphites' dwelling in the Egyptian desert-uneducated monks who crudely believed God to have a body. This characterization was accepted until the nineteenth-century discovery of 'The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje'. Although clearly defending the 'anthropomorphites,' this text does not promote any sort of anthropomorphism. Further analysis led many scholars to conclude that what the anthropomorphites were actually defending was the legitimacy of forming images of the Incarnate Christ in prayer. However, this view fails to fully explain numerous anti-anthropomorphite writings (those of Theophilus, Jerome, Cassian, Cyril and Augustine). Taking these into account, as well as certain Nag Hammadi texts and the works of Philo, Paul A. Patterson shows that the anthropomorphites were bearers of an ancient tradition, seeking in prayer the vision of the eternal, divine body of Christ.

Born 1971; 1994 Bachelor of Arts in Ministry; 1999 Master of Arts in Church History ; 2000 enrolled in the Historical Theology program at Saint Louis University; 2011 Doctor of Philosophy; since 2005 volunteer coordinator for New City Fellowship Church in St. Louis.

Autorentext

Born 1971; 1994 Bachelor of Arts in Ministry; 1999 Master of Arts in Church History ; 2000 enrolled in the Historical Theology program at Saint Louis University; 2011 Doctor of Philosophy; since 2005 volunteer coordinator for New City Fellowship Church in St. Louis.

Klappentext

In the late fourth century, tales began to circulate of 'anthropomorphites' dwelling in the Egyptian desert-uneducated monks who crudely believed God to have a body. This characterization was accepted until the nineteenth-century discovery of 'The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje'. Although clearly defending the 'anthropomorphites,' this text does not promote any sort of anthropomorphism. Further analysis led many scholars to conclude that what the anthropomorphites were actually defending was the legitimacy of forming images of the Incarnate Christ in prayer. However, this view fails to fully explain numerous anti-anthropomorphite writings (those of Theophilus, Jerome, Cassian, Cyril and Augustine). Taking these into account, as well as certain Nag Hammadi texts and the works of Philo, Paul A. Patterson shows that the anthropomorphites were bearers of an ancient tradition, seeking in prayer the vision of the eternal, divine body of Christ.

Zusammenfassung
Im späten 4. Jahrhundert nach Christus kursierten Erzählungen von 'Anthropomorphiten', die in der ägyptischen Wüste lebten - ungebildete Mönche, die glaubten, dass Gott einen Körper habe. Diese Darstellung wurde geduldet, bis im 19. Jahrhundert "Die Vita des seligen Apa Aphu des Anachoreten und des Bischofes von Pemdje" gefunden wurde. Obwohl der Text offensichtlich die 'Anthropomorphiten' verteidigt, heisst er den Anthropomorphismus keinesfalls generell gut. Die tiefergehende Analyse führte viele Wissenschaftler zu der Annahme, dass die Anthropomorphiten eigentlich nur das Recht verteidigten, Bilder des fleischgewordenen Christus im Gebet zu bilden. Allerdings kann diese Einschätzung die zahlreichen anti-anthropomorphen Schriften (zum Beispiel von Theophilus, Hieronymus, Cassian oder Augustinus) nicht vollständig erklären. Paul A. Patterson bezieht sowohl diese Schriften, als auch Nag Hammadi Texte und Werke des Philon von Alexandria in seine Untersuchung mit ein und zeigt, dass die Anthropomorphiten Hüter eines antiken Brauchtums waren und im Gebet die Vision des ewigen, göttlichen Körpers Christi suchten.