Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement [Hardcover]

Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clementexamines the ways in which Irenaeus and Clement understood what it means to be human. By exploring these writings from within their own theological perspectives, John Behr also offers a theological critique of the prevailing approach to the asceticism of Late Antiquity. Writing before monasticism became the dominant paradigm of Christian asceticism, Irenaeus and Clement afford fascinating glimpses of alternative approaches. For Irenaeus, asceticism is the expression of man living the life of God in all dimensions of the body, that which is most characteristically human and in the image of God. Human existence as a physical being includes sexuality as a permanent part of the framework within which males and females grow towards God. In contrast, Clement depicts asceticism as man's attempt at a godlike life to protect the rational element, that which is distinctively human and in the image of God, from any possible disturbance and threat, or from the vulnerability of dependency, especially of a physical or sexual nature. Here human sexuality is strictly limited by the finality of procreation and abandoned in the resurrection. By paying careful attention to these two writers, Behr offers challenging material for the continuing task of understanding ourselves as human beings.

An excellent introduction for both beginning students and more seasoned faculty. --Journal of Religion

Behr's work demonstrates knowledge of and the respect for the complexities of the thought of both Irenaeus and Clement. Journal of Early Christian Studies.

John Behris the Dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Patristics and Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology at Vrije Universiteit. His previous publications includeAsceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement(2000) andIrenaeus of Lyons:Identifying Cl£¥