TRS 755D Spiritual Themes in Early Christianity
One of the most prominent themes in early Christian spiritual teaching was the pilgrimage of the soul. The goal of ascending to the divine dwelling-place appears already in scriptural commentaries such as those of Origen; in the interpretation of journeys to Jerusalem; and in accounts of the divine theophany to Abraham, Moses and others. This course explores early Christian discussions of the ascent of the mind, drawing upon both philosophical and scriptural sources, particularly as found in Origen, Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and several monastic authors.