In this book, Nathan Howard explores gender and identity formation in fourth-century Cappadocia, where pro-Nicene bishops used a rhetoric of contest that aligned with conventions of classical Greek masculinity. Howard demonstrates that epistolary exhibitions served as 'a locus for' asserting manhood in the fourth century. These performances illustrate how a culture of orality that had defined manhood among civic elites was reframed as a contest whereby one accrued status through merits of composition. Howard shows how the Cappadocians' rhetoric also reordered the body and materiality as components of a maleness over which they moderated. He interrogates fourth-century theological conflict as part of a rhetorical battle over claims to manhood that supported the Cappadocians' theology and cast doubt on non-Trinitarian rivals, whom they cast as effeminate and disingenuous. Investigating accounts of pro-Nicene protagonists overcoming struggles, Howard establishes that tropes based on classical standards of gender contributed to the formation of Trinitarian orthodoxy.

‘[This book] will be highly useful for scholars interested in the cultural, religious, and intellectual history of late antiquity.’

Elizabeth Mattingly Conner Source: Bryn Mawr Classical Review

‘Although Howard focuses on Basil and the two Gregorys and the relationships among and between these close-knit theologians, the book holds a richness of detail that will serve readers interested in the wider question of how masculinity was constructed in the fourth century for Christians and non-Christians alike. … This detailed study is a helpful contribution to the field of early Christian studies, demonstrating convincingly that Cappadocian literary discussions of virtue are not just adopting classical definitions of masculinity but reworking them in light of fourth-century debates about orthodoxy and episcopal authority.’

Allison L. Gray Source: Review of Biblical Literature

‘I commend Howard’s comprehensive treatment of the subject matter and thoughtful engagement with primary sources and contemporary scholarship alike … Notably, Howard approaches an uncomfortable topic (i.e., a clear historical preference for 'masculine' gender stereotypes) sensitively and assertively. I would highly recommend this book to any student or specialist in religious, classical, or gender studies.’

Anna Kvale Source: Presbyterion