Chapters

Book Chapter

6. The Orthodox Limits of the Theology of Arithmetic: Irenaeus of Lyons

6. The Orthodox Limits of theTheology of Arithmetic: Irenaeus of Lyons Most scholarly reconstructions of Valentinianism attempt to excise Irenaeus’ interpretation, so as to achieve as uncontaminated an account of the movement as possible. The ultimate goal, a bias-free view of the Valentinians, is misguided. For the unintended consequence—or so I argue in this chapter—of excluding Irenaeus and his writings is to leave the picture of their… Read more

Book Chapter

5. Alternate Paths in the Early Christian Theology of Arithmetic: Monoïmus and the Paraphrase of the “Apophasis Megale”

5. Alternate Paths in theEarly Christian Theology of Arithmetic: Monoïmus and the Paraphrase of the “Apophasis Megale” Although the Valentinians provided a great variety of theologies of arithmetic, they were in reality part of a general trend. In this chapter we turn to two unrelated systems, those of Monoïmus and the Paraphrase of the “Apophasis Megale,” both attested almost exclusively in Hippolytus’ Refutation of All Heresies. The… Read more

Book Chapter

4. The Apogee of Valentinian Number Symbolism: Marcus “Magus”

4. The Apogee of Valentinian Number Symbolism: Marcus “Magus” The most complex number symbolism of any Christian theology in the second century is found in the writings of a Valentinian named Marcus. He was given the epithet magus by ancient heresiologists because of his liturgi-cal alchemy and his interest in ideas normally associated with magical texts. Very little is known about him. Förster, the only modern scholar… Read more

Book Chapter

3. The Rise of the Early Christian Theology of Arithmetic: The Valentinians

3. The Rise of the Early Christian Theology of Arithmetic: The Valentinians The New Testament shows that the earliest Christians were attuned to the number symbolism of their day. Christ itemized his followers symbolically, choosing 12 disciples and 70 apostles. The Book of Revelation is adorned with numerous sevens and twelves, and a single, infamous 666. That impulse continued after the apostolic period. In the so-called Epistle… Read more

Book Chapter

2. Generating the World of Numbers: Pythagorean and Platonist Number Symbolism in the First Century

2. Generating the World of Numbers: Pythagorean and Platonist Number Symbolism in the First Century Two intellectual traditions from classical antiquity laid the foundation for the early Christian theology of arithmetic. The first, and most easily identified, was the rich tradition of number symbolism in the ancient Mediterranean. Numbers had been used symbolically from very early times and in many cultures, as attested by cuneiform tablets and… Read more

Book Chapter

1. Introduction

1. Introduction In ancient Judaism and Christianity, the fascination with numbers and number symbolism was widespread. Just think of the 12 tribes and 12 apostles, Enoch’s 365 years on earth, and 40-day periods of fasting or mourning. In such patterns, Jews and Christians shared a common vocabulary with all ancient societies, which used numbers to adorn their lore, order their calendars, and frame their cosmology. In the… Read more

Book Chapter

Abbreviations

Abbreviations ANF = Roberts, A., J. Donaldson, and A. C. Coxe, eds. 1885–1896. Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo. BCNH.É = Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi. Section “Études.” BCNH.T = Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi. Section “Textes.” CAG = Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca CSEL = Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum … Read more

Book Chapter

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments Of those who have helped me in my research, the most important is my wife, Colette, who allowed me to work undisturbed, and whose curiosity about my topic provided many stimulating conversations. Robin Darling Young was the first to suggest that the topic would be fertile; her intuition was correct, probably far more than she knew. Early drafts of chapters were read by Kevin Corrigan, Andrew… Read more

Book Chapter

Contributors

Contributors Antonis Anastasopoulos is Assistant Professor of Ottoman History at the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete, and a research associate of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (IMS/FORTH). Dimiter Angelov is Professor of Byzantine History at the University of Birmingham. Yota Batsaki is the Executive Director of Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington,… Read more

Book Chapter

11. The Discursive Mapping of Sectarianism in Iraq The “Sunni Triangle” in the Pages of The New York Times, Sahar Bazzaz

11. The Discursive Mapping of Sectarianism in Iraq: The “Sunni Triangle” in the Pages of The New York Times Sahar Bazzaz On March 19, 2003, the United States and a small group of supporting nations known as the “Coalition of the Willing” launched “Operation Iraqi Freedom” with the expressed intent of removing the authoritarian regime of then President Saddam Hussein and establishing a democratic government in… Read more