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Durham E-Theses In whose name I write: John Henry Newman;s reading of the Alexandrian fathers King, Benjamin John How to cite: King, Benjamin John (2007) In whose name I write: John Henry Newman;s reading of the Alexandrian fathers, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2454/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 "In whose name I write": John Henry Newman's reading of the Alexandrian Fathers. Benjamin John King Ph.D. in the Department ofTheology The University ofDurham 2007 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author or the university to which it was submitted. No quotation from it, or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author or university, and any information derived from it should be acknowledged. - 3 MAY 2007 "In whose name I write": John Henry Newman's reading of the Alexandrian Fathers Benjamin King The history of doctrine has been shaped by its historiographers. Prominent among nineteenth-century historiographers is John Henry Newman (1801-1890), a patristic scholar whose interest among historians today normally lies in his writings on doctrinal development or in his own story of conversion. It is the purpose of this thesis to show that historians of theology, particularly of the patristic era, should also be interested in Newman's engagement with Origen, Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria. In tum, this should interest all those who know the Apologia, for as an Anglican and as a Catholic Newman held different views of these Fathers. This thesis provides an examination of the changes that occur in Newman's reading of, and writing on, the Alexandrians Fathers across the years. Overall, three things will be seen. First, comparing his first book, The Arians of the Fourth Century (1833), with his later works, reveals a flattening out ofNewman's account of history occurring just when he was propounding that doctrine is dynamic. Secondly, analysis of his sermons ofthe 1830s and 1840s shows an Alexandrian christology ("Monophysite" in Cyril's sense, as Newman explains it) in tension with his claims at the time, that he was leaving the Anglican Church because it held an analogous position to the Monophysites of the fifth century. Thirdly, contrasting his translations of Athanasius in the Library of the Fathers (1842-4) with his "free translation" (1881), reveals the effect thirty-five years of reading Catholic scholastic theology had on Newman. Contents. Acknowledgements 3 Abbreviations 4 Introduction· 6 1 Newman and doctrinal truth: An examination across the years 13 2 A Play of Mirrors: Newman and his sources in The Arians of the Fourth Century 62 3 Preaching the Word: The Alexandrian shape ofNewman's christology 118 4 The Homoousion before and after Nicaea: The Eclipse of Origen and the Rise of Athanas ius 163 5 The Athanasius "with whom I end": Arianism and Origen revisited 198 Conclusion: A Latin Athanasius for a Scholastic Newman 235 Bibliography 242 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any format, including electronic and the internet, without the author's prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged accordingly. 2 Acknowledgements. My thanks must go first to my supervisor, Fr. Andrew Louth, whose warm words and wonderful writings have inspired so much of this thesis. Also, to my examiners, Professor Nicholas Lash and the Rev'd Canon Professor David Brown: it was an honour to receive their insights and encouragement on a cold day in Durham. On the other side of the Atlantic, however, the Rev' d Professor Sarah Coakley deserves the greatest thanks. She gave me the idea of looking at Newman's work on the Fathers and helped me draft a thesis proposal. Since then her continued interest in my findings has inspired new directions in my research. It is a privilege to know that it will soon be the case that two Norris-Hulse Professors have been so involved in this thesis. My remaining debts are divided between America and Britain. In America, I must thank Professor Fred Lawrence and the Rev'd Dr. Charles Hefting for all their wisdom and guidance. Without Fred, in particular, I might have ended up studying something rather different. I must thank the Rev'd Professor Brian Daley for his generosity in taking time to answer my many questions and to give his constant encouragement. Professor Frank Turner also gave me warm encouragement. Dr. David Cunningham helped me structure the early stages ofthis research and I talked through many of my ideas with Dr. Todd Billings. The Rev'd Don Larsen and Dr. Joseph Chapman have also been a great help. And thanks to my other supervisor, Mrs. Polly Warren, for all her guidance. In Britain, my constant academic companions, Dr. Matthew Treheme and the Rev'd Edmund Newey, deserve enormous thanks. Good fortune brought us together, but good conversation has sealed our friendship. Philip McCosker has also been wonderful for theological conversation and, kindly, has even moved to New Haven to make this easier. I could not have produced this thesis without two other immigrants to the US. Fr. John Behr inspired me with his lectures and has generously read through a portion of this text. Dr. Dominic Doyle also read through a chapter and here, as well as in conversation, has helped improve my ideas. Finally, thanks to Mum and Colin who took me to the viva, and to Dad who promises to read the thesis. 3 Abbreviations. Newman's works cited (the uniform edition is not always used) Apo Apologia Pro Vita Sua ed. Martin Svaglic (Oxford: OUP, 1967). Arians The Arians of the Fourth Century Birmingham Oratory Millennium Edition, ed. Rowan Williams (Notre Dame: University ofNotre Dame Press, 2001). 1 Ath i, ii Select Treatises of Athanasius Against the Arians 4 h edition (London: Longmans, 1903) 2 vols. BI The Theological Papers ofJohn Henry Newman on Biblical Inspiration and Infallibility ed. J. Derek Holmes (Oxford: OUP, 1979). Cal Callista: A Sketch of the Third Centwy (London: Bums and Oats, 1962). CF The Church of the Fathers Birmingham Oratory Millennium ·Edition, ed. Francis McGrath (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2002). Cons On Consulting the Faithful in Matters ofDoctrine ed. John Coulson (London: Collins Flame Classics, 1986). DA Discussions and Arguments on Various Subjects Birmingham Oratory Millennium Edition, ed. Gerard Tracey and James Tolhurst (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004). Dev An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine 2nd edition (London: James Toovey, 1846). Dev (1878) An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (London: Longmans, 1909). Diffi, ii Certain Difficulties Felt by Anglicans (London: Longmans, 1901) 2 vols. EH i, ii Essays Critical and Historical (London: Longmans, 1907) 2 vols. Fleury i The Ecclesiastical History ofM L 'Abbe Fleury vol. i translated with notes and "Essay on the Miracles Recorded in Ecclesiastical History" by Newman (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1842). GA An Essay in Aid of a Grammar ofAssent (London: Longmans, 1903). HS i, ii, iii Historical Sketches (London: Longmans, 1908) 3 vols. Jfc Lectures on the Doctrine ofJustification 3rd ed. (Oxford: Rivingtons, 1874). LD Letters and Diaries ofJohn Henry Newman. Man "The Monophysite Heresy" OM, B.2.5. Mix Discourses addressed to Mixed Congregations (London: Longmans, 1906). OM Birmingham Oratory Manuscript. Ox Frs ii The Catechetical Lectures ofS. Cyril vol. ii of A Library of the Fathers (Oxford: Rivingtons, 1839). Ox Frs iii The Treatises ofS. Cyprian vol. iii of A Library ofthe Fathers (Oxford: Rivingtons, 1839). 4 Ox Frs viii, xix Select Treatises ofS. Athanas ius in Controversy with the Arians vols. viii and xix of A Library of the Fathers (Oxford: Rivingtons, 1842, 1844). Prepos Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (London: Rivingtons, 1908). PS Parochial and Plain Sermons (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1997) 8 vols. Original vol. and sermon number are given below, then page. SD Sermons bearing on the Subjects of the Day (London: Longmans, 1898). SN Sermon Notes ofJohn Henry Newman ed. The Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory (London: Longmans, 1913). TT Tracts Theological and Ecclesiastical1 st edition (Basil Montague Pickering, 1874). us Fifteen Sermons preached before the University of Oxford ed. D.M. MacKinnon and J.D. Holmes (London: SPCK, 1970). VMi, ii The Via Media 3rd edition (London: Longmans, 1877) 2 vols. Other works cited ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers. Apostolici Cave, William, Apostolici, or, The history of the lives, acts, death, and martyrdoms of those who were contemporary with or immediately succeeding the Apostles (London: A. C. for Richard Chiswell, 1677). de Prinicipiis Origen, On First Principles trans. G.W. Butterworth (Gloucester MA: Peter Smith, 1973). de reb i, ii Mosheim, Johann, Historical Commentaries on the State of Christianity during the first three hundred and twenty-five years from the Christian Era E.T.