The Concept of Theology

doi:10.1017/9781108590341.006

1.5 - The Concept of Theology

from I - Concepts

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2021

Olivier Boulnois

Edited by

Alexander J. B. Hampton and

John Peter Kenney

Show author details

Alexander J. B. Hampton: Affiliation:
University of Toronto
John Peter Kenney: Affiliation:
Saint Michael's College, Vermont

Book contents

Get access

Summary

One of the most remarkable contributions of the Middle Ages to Western thought is the invention of theology as a rational science of faith. This chapter traces the origin of the concept of theologia. By examining the works of Dionysius the Areopagite, John Scotus Eriugena, and Boethius, it is possible to arrive at a picture of how theology came to be used to designate a Christian discipline, and the field for the rational interpretation of faith.

Keywords

theology Dionysius the Areopagite John Scotus Eriugena Boethius

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Christian Platonism
A History
, pp. 101 - 121

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108590341.006 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Aquinas, Thomas. In librum beati Dionysii De divinis nominibus expositio. Edited by Pera, Ceslas. Rome, Turin: Marietti, 1950.Google Scholar

Aristotle, . Metaphysica. Edited by Jaeger, Werner. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980 (1957).Google Scholar

Augustinus, . De civitate Dei. Œuvres de saint Augustin, La cité de Dieu, Livres VI–X. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer, 1959.Google Scholar

Augustinus, De Trinitate. Œuvres de saint Augustin, La Trinité, Livres I–VII. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer, 1959.Google Scholar

Augustinus, Epistolae, Patrologia Latina 33. Edited by Migne, Jacques-Paul. Paris, 1863.Google Scholar

Boethius, . In Isagogen Porphyrii Commenta, ed. Secunda. Edited by Brandt, Samuel. Vienna, Leipzig: Tempsky, 1906.Google Scholar

Boethius, The Theological Tractates: The Consolation of Philosophy. Edited and translated by Stewart, Hugh Fraser, Rand, Edward Kennard, and Tester, S. Jim. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Heinemann, 1978.Google Scholar

Boulnois, Olivier. Au-delà de l’image. Une archéologie du visuel au Moyen Age, Ve–XVIe siècle. Paris: Seuil, 2008.Google Scholar

Cassiodorus, . Epiphani historia ecclesiastica tripartite. Edited by Jakob, Walter and Hanslik, Rudolph. Vienna: Holder-Pichler-Tempski, 1952.Google Scholar

Denys l’Aréopagite [Dionysius the Areopagite], . De coelesti hierarchia. La Hiérarchie Céleste. Edited by Heil, Gunther and translated by de Gandillac, Maurice. Paris: le Cerf, 1970.Google Scholar

Denys l’Aréopagite [Dionysius the Areopagite], De divinis nominibus, Les Noms divins. Edited and translated by Ysabel de, Andia. Paris: le Cerf, 2016.Google Scholar

Denys l’Aréopagite [Dionysius the Areopagite] De mystica theologia. La théologie mystique. Edited and translated by Ysabel de, Andia. Paris: le Cerf, 2016.Google Scholar

Dionysius Areopagita, . Corpus Dionysiacum I. Edited by Suchla, Beate Regina. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter, 1990.Google Scholar

Areopagita, Dionysius Corpus Dionysiacum II. Edited by Heil, Gunther and Ritter, Adolf Martin. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter, 1991.Google Scholar

Areopagita, Dionysius On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. Translated by Clarence Edwin. London, New York: Macmillan, 1920.Google Scholar

Areopagita, Dionysius Opera Omnia, Patrologia Graeca 3. Edited by Migne, Jacques-Paul. Paris, 1857.Google Scholar

Hankey, Wayne J. ‘Ad intellectum ratiocinatio: Three Procline logics, The Divine Names of Pseudo-Dionysius, Eriugena’s Periphyseon and Boethius’ Consolatio Philosophiae’. Studia Patristica 29 (1997): 244–51.Google Scholar

Harrington, Michael L., ed. and trans. A Thirteenth-Century Textbook of Mystical Theology at the University of Paris. The Mystical Theology of Dionysius the Areopagite in Eriugena’s Latin Translation with the Scholia Translated by Anastasius the Librarian and Excerpts from Eriugena’s Periphyseon. Paris-Leuven-Dudley, MA: Peeters, 2004.Google Scholar

Jean Scot, [John Scotus Eriugena]. Homélie sur le Prologue de Jean. Edited by Jeauneau, Edouard. Paris: le Cerf, 1969.Google Scholar

Iohannes Scoti, [John Scotus Eriugena]. Expositiones in ierarchiam coelestem. Edited by Barbet, Jeanne. Turnhout: Brepols, 1975.Google Scholar

Johannes Scottus seu Eriugena, [John Scotus Eriugena]. Periphyseon I. Edited by Jeauneau, Edouard. Turnhout: Brepols, 1996.Google Scholar

Johannes Scottus seu Eriugena, Periphyseon II. Edited by Jeauneau, Edouard. Turnhout: Brepols, 1997.Google Scholar

Johannes Scottus seu Eriugena, Periphyseon (Division of Nature). Translated by J. O’Meara. Montreal, Washington: Bellarmin, Dumbarton Oaks, 1987.Google Scholar

Le Bouzec, Yves. ‘L’hypotypose: un essai de définition formelle’. L’information grammaticale 92 (2002): 3–7.Google Scholar

Limberger, Veronika. Eriugenas Hypertheologie. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2015.Google Scholar

Pépin, Jean. ‘Les modes de l’enseignement théologique dans la Théologie Platonicienne’. In Proclus et la théologie platonicienne, edited by Segonds, Alain-Philippe and Steel, Carlos, 1–14. Leuven, Paris: Leuven University Press, 2000.Google Scholar

Plotin, , Ennéades. Edited by Bréhier, E.. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1976.Google Scholar

Plotin, Traité 38. Translated by Pierre Hadot. Paris: Les Éditions du Cerf, 1988.Google Scholar

Proclus, . Théologie Platonicienne. Edited by Saffrey, Henri-Dominique and Westerink Gerrit, Leender. Paris: les Belles Lettres, 2017 (1968).Google Scholar

Roques, René. ‘Les “théologies” dionysiennes: notions, fonctions et implications’. In Structures théologiques. De la gnose à Richard de Saint-Victor, 135–63. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1962.Google Scholar

Rorem, Paul. Eriugena’s Commentary on the Dionysian Celestial Hierarchy. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2005.Google Scholar

Saffrey, Henri-Dominique. ‘Theology as Science (3rd–6th centuries’). Studia Patristica 29 (1997): 321–39.Google Scholar

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the HTML of this chapter is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.