Thecla, the Ideal Christian : Discipleship Ideals from the Second Century to the Fourth

• In the beginning of his hagiography of his beloved sister Macrina (the Younger, ca. 330–379), Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 330–395) puts great emphasis on the parallel between Macrina and the second-century literary figure of Thecla, known from the second-century Acts of Paul and Thecla. By doing so, he suggests that the personal qualities of Macrina that he intents to laud in his hagiography are paralleled by Thecla – but what are those? Divided by a gap of two centuries, during which time the Christian movement has developed from a fringe faction into an imperially supported religion, the historical circumstances of the literary figures of Thecla and Macrina are hardly comparable, and the traits demanded by Christians in such differing circumstances could be vastly different. This paper aims to discern the discipleship ideals – personal qualities of an ideal Christian – are presented throughout the narrative of both the Life of Macrina and the Acts of Paul and Thekla, and to discuss whether Gregory’s discipleship ideals are continuous with that of the previous author, or if Gregory distorts the image of Thecla to promote a different set of ideals. 

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Religionsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- Religious Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Bibelvetenskap, Nt

Biblical Studies, New testament

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)