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Ontological Subordination in Novatian of Rome's Theology of the Son Daniel Lloyd Marquette University

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Ontological Subordination in Novatian of Rome's Theology of the Son Daniel Lloyd Marquette University Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations (2009 -) Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Projects Ontological Subordination in Novatian of Rome's Theology of the Son Daniel Lloyd Marquette University Recommended Citation Lloyd, Daniel, "Ontological Subordination in Novatian of Rome's Theology of the Son" (2012). Dissertations (2009 -). Paper 185. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/185 ONTOLOGICAL SUBORDINATION IN NOVATIAN OF ROME‘S THEOLOGY OF THE SON By Daniel Lloyd, B.S., M.T.S. A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 2012 ABSTRACT ONTOLOGICAL SUBORDINATION IN NOVATIAN OF ROME‘S THEOLOGY OF THE SON Daniel Lloyd, B.A., M.T.S. Marquette University, 2012 This dissertation evaluates Novatian of Rome‘s theology of the Son in his De Trinitate. It argues that Novatian presents the Son as ontologically subordinate to the Father, which is not a conclusion shared by a majority of recent scholars. This conclusion is reached by comparing Novatian‘s presentation of the Father‘s divinity with that of the Son. The first half of this work, therefore, demonstrates the manner by which Novatian affirms that the Father is transcendent, supreme, and unique in His attributes. Novatian employs a range of concepts and terms found in Christian and non-Christian sources. Specifically, I present and analyze Novatian‘s indebtedness to technical terminology of divine ontology and divine attributes which were common to his intellectual environment, especially in Middle Platonism. I show that Novatian expresses the Father‘s transcendence through negative theology, but also acknowledges an array of necessary attributes such as oneness and simplicity. Novatian‘s understanding of the Son‘s nature depends on his conviction that the Father alone is supreme in all of His divine attributes. The arguments Novatain assembles to identify the Son as God do not suggest that the Son‘s divinity is based on the idea of equality with the Father. In some respects, Novatian takes over subordinationist themes in the Word Christology tradition, which was highly influential to his perspective. This study shows that when Novatian turns his attention to a comparison of the Son‘s divine nature with that of the Father, his emphasis on the Father‘s uniqueness and supremacy act as the lens by which he speaks of the Son‘s attributes. Although Novatian embraces the Son‘s derivation from the Father in terms of a shared substance (what I identify as an ontological connection/relationship), he consistently speaks of the Son‘s attributes as diminished and less than the Father‘s. This dissertation attempts to correct the false impression that theological philosophy played a minor role, or no role at all, on Novatian‘s thought. Novatian‘s theology of the Son is both consistent and sophisticated because of his articulation of the Son‘s ontological subordination to the Father. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Daniel Lloyd, B.A., M.T.S. My understanding of what a dissertation is has changed since the time when I entered graduate school. My perception had been that a dissertation amounted to a very long paper. In fact, the experience has colored the way I tend to think of all topics. The time which I have spent in Marquette‘s program encompasses the most significant period of my adult life. This work coincides with the beginning of my marriage and the raising of two children. Now all of my experiences are in some ways inseparable. I would first like to thank my board, Dr. Michel René Barnes, Dr. Ralph Del Colle, Fr. William Kurz, and Dr. D. Stephen Long. I am very grateful to all for agreeing to read this work. I would also like to thank the Marquette Theology Department. After accepting me into the program, I was given the very great pleasure of working for two outstanding professors, Dr. Sharon Pace and Dr. Wanda Zemler-Cizewski. I especially owe Dr. Pace a great debt of gratitude, having worked with her for two years. She provided me with an array of tasks as her TA which broadened my perspective on life in academia. The department also gave me the chance to develop and teach several courses during this process. Getting into the classroom and having a preview of the reason I began pursuing doctoral studies was an enormous psychological help. I would further like to express my appreciation to all of the professors with whom I have taken courses: Dr. Barnes, Dr. Del Colle, Dr. Julian Hills, Dr. Andrei Orlov, Fr. Alexander Golitzin, Dr. Markus Wriedt, and Fr. Joseph Mueller. I am grateful to have been enriched by an amazing diversity of pedagogical skills and professional expertise. I am profoundly humbled by the care and attention Dr. Barnes has given to all of his students and to me especially. He has always been generous with his time and he has been tireless in attempting to draw out of me my best work. His love of teaching and his love of Patristic theology have shaped my professional goals beyond telling. My decision to pursue an academic post surely witnesses to the fact that I have a great love for school and study. Such a love rarely develops, I would think, without a predominantly positive experience with teachers. I am no exception to this experience, and I am happy to take the opportunity to offer my thanks to all of my teachers, from all of my previous schools. I would also like to thank one teacher in particular: Prof. Glen Johnson introduced me to the Fathers and helped me to see the unbreakable unity of the faith community across time. He is one of the best teachers I have had over these many years. My entire family (including those on my wife‘s side) has been incredibly supportive through these many years. At different periods of this process, a clear feeling of selfishness has arisen in me. Travelling to the library to work by myself on a project that few people might read is not a pleasant thought on which to dwell. And yet, every member of my family has been wonderful and encouraging, especially my parents. My many thanks to everyone. Finally, I would like to express my limitless gratitude to my wife, Amy. Her support in all things has made this work possible and meaningful. She is simply incomparable as a wife, mother, and companion. In addition, and despite supporting our ii family financially (and with a work ethic that is unrivaled by anything I have ever seen or will ever see), she has given me every opportunity and encouragement to complete my work as well as I can. Simply put, she amazes me every day. Thank you. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDMENTS………………………………………………………………....i-ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………….iv-v CHAPTER INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………..1-21 I. PHILOSOPHIC APPROACHES TO NEGATIVE THEOLOGY AND DIVINE TRANCENDENCE…………………...22-46 II. NOVATIAN‘S TRANSCENDENT GOD…………………………...47-74 III. THEOLOGICAL EPISTEMOLOGY………………………………..75-95 IV. THE ONE AND ETERNAL FATHER……………………………..96-138 V. THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORD CHRISTOLOGY…………...139-193 VI. ARGUMENTS FOR THE SON‘S DIVINITY……………………194-237 VII. THE SON AS ONTOLOGICALLY SUBORDINATE………..….238-286 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………287-291 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………292-307 iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACW Ancient Christian Writers An. The Soul ANF The Ante-Nicene Fathers Apol. 1 and 2 Apologies ATR Anglican Theological Review Aug. Augustinianum AugStud Augustinian Studies Autol. To Autolycus Cels. Against Celsus CH Church History De deo Socr. De deo Socratico Dial. Dialogue with Trypho Did. Didaskalikos Dogm. Plat. De dogma Platonis DRev Downside Review DTC Dictionnaire de théologie catholique EC Enciclopedia Cattolica ETL Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses FC Fathers of the Church GRBS Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies Greg Gregorianum Haer. Against Heresies Herm. Against Hermogenes HTR Harvard Theological Review ILC Illinois Classical Studies ITQ Irish Theological Quarterly JECS Journal of Early Christian Studies JR Journal of Religion JTS Journal of Theological Studies Marc. Against Marcion Mund. De mundo NAPS North American Patristics Society Nat. d. De natura deorum Noet. Contra Noetum NRTh La Nouvelle Revue Théologique NTS New Testament Studies NV Nova et Vetera Prax. Adversus Praxean REAug. Revue des Études Augustiniennes Ref. Refutation of All Heresies RSPT Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Théologiques StPatr Studia Patristica ST Studia Theologica v S.V.F. Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta Tim. Timaeus USQR Union Seminary Quarterly Review ZAW Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 1 Introduction I began this dissertation with the intent of analyzing Novatian‘s Christological anthropology and eschatology in his De Trinitate (hereafter Trin.). My conclusions about these topics derive from my understanding that Novatian teaches the ontological subordination of the Son to the Father. By ontological subordination, I mean that Novatian treats the Son as having a divine nature or divine attributes which are unequal to those of the Father, the Supreme God. My understanding of Novatian‘s ontological subordination comes from my analysis of Novatian‘s interaction with the theological philosophy of his time as well as his articulation of the Word Christology tradition. However, my board helped me to realize that Novatian‘s ontological subordination of the Son to the Father is itself the scope of a dissertation. In its current form, this dissertation investigates the framework by which Novatian maintains the Father‘s transcendence through the Son‘s activities and immanence in the world, and I will demonstrate that Novatian achieves this dynamic by teaching the Son‘s ontological subordination. At a later date, I will use this project as the necessary springboard with which to evaluate Novatian‘s theological anthropology and eschatology. I conclude in this dissertation that Novatian presents a sophisticated theology of the Son based on a Christology resembling that of Justin.
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