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Gregory of Nyssa's Doctrine of the Celestial

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Gregory of Nyssa's Doctrine of the Celestial NOT MADE WITH HANDS GREGORY OF NYSSA’S DOCTRINE OF THE CELESTIAL TABERNACLE IN ITS JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN CONTEXTS A Thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2011 ANN I CONWAY-JONES SCHOOL OF ARTS, HISTORIES AND CULTURES CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 6 Declaration .................................................................................................................... 7 Copyright statement ..................................................................................................... 7 Dedication ..................................................................................................................... 8 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 9 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 11 The author of the thesis .............................................................................................. 12 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 13 1.1 Aims of the thesis ........................................................................................... 13 1.2 Research methodology .................................................................................... 16 1.3 Relationship to previous scholarship and current research ............................... 18 1.3.1 Rethinking Gregory of Nyssa ................................................................... 19 1.3.2 Debates around mysticism ....................................................................... 20 1.3.3 Reassessment of Jewish/Christian boundaries .......................................... 22 1.3.4 Jewish roots of Christian mysticism ......................................................... 25 2 Gregory of Nyssa and Life of Moses ................................................................... 27 2.1 Gregory’s life and works ................................................................................. 27 2.2 Life of Moses .................................................................................................. 29 3 Contexts ............................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Biblical context ............................................................................................... 32 3.1.1 Exodus 25-28 ........................................................................................... 32 3.1.2 Ezekiel 1 .................................................................................................. 34 3.1.3 Paul’s letters ............................................................................................ 35 3.2 Alexandrian context ........................................................................................ 35 3.2.1 Philo ........................................................................................................ 35 3.2.2 Clement ................................................................................................... 36 3.2.3 Excerpts from Theodotus ......................................................................... 36 3.2.4 Origen ..................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Theological context......................................................................................... 37 3.3.1 Theological disputes ................................................................................ 37 3.3.2 The fourth century church ........................................................................ 38 2 3.4 Heavenly ascent context.................................................................................. 39 3.4.1 1 Enoch 14............................................................................................... 39 3.4.2 Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice ................................................................. 40 3.4.3 Testament of Levi ..................................................................................... 40 3.4.4 2 Enoch ................................................................................................... 41 3.4.5 Ascension of Isaiah .................................................................................. 42 3.4.6 Hekhalot texts .......................................................................................... 43 3.4.7 B. Ḥagigah 11b – 16a .............................................................................. 43 4 Life of Moses 2.162-201 ....................................................................................... 45 4.1 Heavenly ascents ............................................................................................ 45 4.1.1 Gregory’s use of the heavenly ascent paradigm ........................................ 45 4.1.2 Alexandrian context ................................................................................. 47 4.1.3 Theological context ................................................................................. 50 4.1.4 Heavenly ascent context .......................................................................... 51 4.1.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 54 4.2 Darkness ......................................................................................................... 56 4.2.1 Life of Moses 2.162-169 and its biblical context ....................................... 56 4.2.2 Alexandrian context ................................................................................. 58 4.2.3 Theological context ................................................................................. 61 4.2.4 Heavenly ascent context .......................................................................... 65 4.2.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 70 4.3 The tabernacle ‘not made with hands’ ............................................................. 72 4.3.1 Life of Moses 2.170-172 and its biblical context ....................................... 72 4.3.2 Alexandrian context ................................................................................. 77 4.3.3 Theological context ................................................................................. 81 4.3.4 Heavenly ascent context .......................................................................... 82 4.3.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 84 4.4 Christological interpretation ............................................................................ 85 4.4.1 Life of Moses 2.173-179 and its biblical context ....................................... 85 4.4.2 Alexandrian context ................................................................................. 91 3 4.4.3 Theological context ................................................................................. 93 4.4.4 Heavenly ascent context .......................................................................... 96 4.4.5 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 100 4.5 Divine names ................................................................................................ 103 4.5.1 Life of Moses 2.176-177 and its biblical context ..................................... 103 4.5.2 Alexandrian context ............................................................................... 104 4.5.3 Theological context ............................................................................... 108 4.5.4 Heavenly ascent context ........................................................................ 113 4.5.5 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 116 4.6 Heavenly powers .......................................................................................... 118 4.6.1 Life of Moses 2.178-183 and its biblical context ..................................... 118 4.6.2 Alexandrian context ............................................................................... 123 4.6.3 Theological context ............................................................................... 128 4.6.4 Heavenly ascent context ........................................................................ 130 4.6.5 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 133 4.7 The earthly tabernacle ................................................................................... 135 4.7.1 Life of Moses 2.184-187 and its biblical context ..................................... 135 4.7.2 Alexandrian context ............................................................................... 139 4.7.3 Theological context ............................................................................... 142 4.7.4 Heavenly ascent context ........................................................................ 146 4.7.5 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 149 4.8 Heavenly and earthly worship ......................................................................
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