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Auctoritas and Potestas in the Apostolic Constitutions

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Auctoritas and Potestas in the Apostolic Constitutions Auctoritas and Potestas in the Apostolic Constitutions by Paul William Smith A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Wycliffe College and the Graduate Centre for Theological Studies of the Toronto School of Theology. In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael’s College. © Copyright by Paul William Smith 2018 Auctoritas and Potestas in the Apostolic Constitutions Paul William Smith Doctor of Philosophy University of St. Michael’s College 2018 Abstract The fourth century is a time of rapid change in the Christian churches brought on by developments such as the rise of the ascetic movement, the new relationship with the emperor instituted by Constantine, and the various Christological debates which splintered the church. This dissertation will contribute to our understanding of this process of rapid change by examining how the non-Nicene Apostolic Constitutions viewed religious authority. It will argue that the Apostolic Constitutions represent the editor’s attempt to defend the religious authority of the clergy in his community, while ultimately rejecting potential alternative authorities, especially alternative lay authorities such as ascetics and the emperor. The categories of potestas and auctoritas will be used to systematize the available data and provide a model for its interpretation. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... vi Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 Apostolic Constitutions and Authority ................................................................ 1 Definition of Terms............................................................................................. 3 Survey of Scholarship ......................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1 Social Context of the Apostolic Constitutions .........................................................16 Authorship......................................................................................................... 16 Antioch .............................................................................................................. 25 Imperial Relationship with the Church ............................................................. 27 Other Political Offices in Antioch .................................................................... 30 Christian Schisms in Antioch............................................................................ 33 Judaism in Antioch ........................................................................................... 37 Chapter 2 Auctoritas and Potestas in the Early Church ..........................................................40 The Pre-Nicene Church..................................................................................... 40 Ignatius of Antioch ........................................................................................... 41 Irenaeus ............................................................................................................. 48 Clement of Alexandria ...................................................................................... 50 Origen of Alexandria ........................................................................................ 52 Confessors and Martyrs .................................................................................... 53 Prophets............................................................................................................. 54 The Nicene Church ........................................................................................... 57 iii Monasticism ...................................................................................................... 58 Bishops .............................................................................................................. 62 Athanasius ......................................................................................................... 63 Basil the Great................................................................................................... 72 Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus ................................................... 74 The Non-Nicene Church ................................................................................... 75 Arius .................................................................................................................. 75 Eustathius .......................................................................................................... 78 Council of Gangra ............................................................................................. 79 Pseudo-Ignatius ................................................................................................. 80 Commentary on Job .......................................................................................... 85 Chapter 3 Auctoritas and Potestas in the Sources ...................................................................86 The “Church Order” Genre ............................................................................... 86 Didache ............................................................................................................. 88 Apostolic Tradition ........................................................................................... 94 Didascalia ....................................................................................................... 107 Jewish Prayers ................................................................................................. 122 Chapter 4 Potestas in the Apostolic Constitutions .................................................................124 Apostolic Potestas .......................................................................................... 124 Ritual Potestas ................................................................................................ 139 Baptism ........................................................................................................... 140 Sunday Liturgy................................................................................................ 145 Ordination ....................................................................................................... 157 iv Judicial Potestas.............................................................................................. 158 Potestas in the Clerical Offices ....................................................................... 163 Bishops ............................................................................................................ 163 Presbyters ........................................................................................................ 166 Deacons ........................................................................................................... 167 Chapter 5 Auctoritas in the Apostolic Constitutions ..............................................................170 Imperial Auctoritas ......................................................................................... 171 Ascetical Auctoritas ........................................................................................ 185 Teaching Auctoritas ........................................................................................ 204 Auctoritas and Patronage ................................................................................ 208 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................215 Bibliography ..........................................................................................................................222 v List of Abbreviations Brakke David Brakke, Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995). Courtonne Yves Courtonne, ed. Saint Basile Lettres: Texte Établi et Traduit, 3 Volumes (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1957-66). EW Eusebius Werke Foerster Richardus Foerster, ed., Libanii Opera, 11 volumes (Leipzig: Teubner, 1903- 63). Funk Franciscus Funk, ed., Didascalia et Constitutiones Apostolorum, Volume 1 (Paderborn: Ferdinand Schoeningh, 1805). GCS Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten drei Jahrhunderte Holmes Michael Holmes, ed., The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007). LCL Loeb Classical Library LSJ9 H.G. Liddell, R. Scott, and Stuart Jones, A Greek and English Lexicon, 9th ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1940). Montfaucon Bernardi de Montfaucon, ed., Joannis Chrysostomi: Opera Omni Quae Exstant (Paris: Gaume Fratres, Bibliopolas, 1838). Opitz Athanasius Werke PG Patrologia Graeca PLS Patrologia Latina Supplementum PTS Patristische Texte und Studien SEA Studia Ephemeridis Augustinianum SC Sources Chrétiennes SH Subsidia Hagiographica SVCTP Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha vi Unless otherwise noted, all abbreviations for patristic authors and their works come from G. W. H. Lampe, A Patristic Greek Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1964), xi-xiv. vii Introduction Apostolic Constitutions and Authority The fourth century was a key time in the evolution of the Christian church. Two fluid traditions in the post-Constantinian church, known slightly anachronistically as the Nicene
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