Anthropology and Theology of Methodius of Olympus_3vrubok

elementary

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STATIONARY + ONLINE COURSE (possible online lectures in MS Teams and assignments on the Moodle Platform)

Password for course in MS TEAMS Platforme: 3vrubok

The aim of the course is to introduce students with the life, achievements and theological thought of Methodius of Olympus. Selected passages from Symposium, De libero arbitrio and De resurrectione will be subject to detailed analysis. On their basis and with the help of the literature on the subject, the student will acquire the ability to situate the author's thoughts on the background of the patristic panorama. The topics of the course include anthropological issues (the creation of man, the God-man relationship, reason and free will, the ideal of chastity and virginity), Christological, soteriological, sacramentological, eschatological (resurrection), and finally theological (God as Creator, Lord of history, Holy Trinity).

Methodius of Olympus is one of the few important Christian authors from the turn of the third and fourth centuries. He took up many key theological and ecclesial issues with great erudition. His thought was not only an attempt to synthesize the so-called Asian tradition with the Alexandrian one, but it already heralded new Christian ideals (e.g. monastic life).

Main issues:

1. Biography of Methodius and the difficulties associated with its reconstruction.

2. General overview of the Symposium: characteristics of the content of the speeches of 10 virgins.

3. Interpretation of the types of exegesis Genesis 1-3 in the first three speeches of the Symposium.

4. The meaning of baptism for man on the basis of the Symposium.

5. Ethical views and ascetic and spiritual guidelines of Methodius of Olympus.

6. Anthropology of Methodius of Olympus on the basis of Symposium and De resurrectione.

7. The problem of evil and free will in terms of Methodius of Olympus (De libero arbitrio).

8. Penance, forgiveness of sins and salvation in terms of Methodius from Olympus.

9. Resurrection of the dead according to Methodius of Olympus (De resurrectione).

10. Theology of the Holy Trinity according to Methodius of Olympus.

Bonwetsch G. N., Methodius, GCS 27, Leipzig 1917.

Bracht K., The Question of the Episcopal See of Methodius of Olympus Reconsidered, „Studia Patristica” 34 (2001), s. 3-10.

Bracht K., Vollkommenheit und Vollendung. Zur Anthropologie des Methodius von Olympus, Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum 2, Tübingen 1999.

Bracht K. (ed.), Methodius of Olympus. State of the art and new perspectives, Textes und Untersuchungen, Berlin: De Gruyter 2017

Farges J., Les idées morales et religieuses de Méthode d’Olympe. Contribution à l’étude des rapports du Christianisme et de l’Hellénisme à la fin du troisième siècle, Paris 1929.

Franchi R., Introduzione, w: Franchi R. (red.), Metodio d’Olimpo: Il libero arbitrio, Letture Cristiane del Primo Millennio 53, Milano 2015, s. 7-149.

La Valle D.T., The Aesthetics of Hope in Late Greek Imperial Literature. Methodius of Olympus' Symposium and the Crisis of the ThirdCentury, Cambridge University Press 2019.

Mejzner M., L’escatologia di Metodio di Olimpo, Studia Ephemeridis Augustinianum, t. 124, Roma-Ząbki 2011.

- , Methodius: millenarist or anti-millenarist?, w: Bracht K. (red.), Methodius of Olympus. State of the art and new perspectives, Textes und Untersuchungen, Berlin: De Gruyter 2017, s. 63-84.

- , The anthropological foundations of the concept of resurrection according to Methodius of Olympus, Studia Patristica 65: Papers presented at the Sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 2011, Leuven – Paris – Walpole: Peeters 2013, s. 185-196.

- , Undem malum? w „De autexusio” Metodego z Olimpu, „Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia” 10 (2017) 1, s. 101-118.

- , Zapomniany nauczyciel wiary. Studium historyczno-teologiczne nad postacią Metodego z Olimpu, „Teologia patrystyczna” 9 (2012), s. 23-40.

Patterson L. G., Methodius of Olympus. Divine Sovereignty, Human Freedom, and Life in Christ, Washington 1997.

Password for course in MS TEAMS Platforme: 3vrubok

1. The student knows:

- biography and titles of works of Methodius of Olympus.

- the era in which he lived

- the history of the reception and the general content of his three most important works: Symposium, De libero arbitrio and De resurrectione

- selected issues from the thought of Methodius of Olympus: creation of the world and man, understanding the meaning of history, human free will, salvation in Christ, resurrection of the dead, the ideal of chastity and virginity;

- the theological dependence of Methodius (on Irenaeus and Origen)

- the influence of Methodius on later Christian thought.

2. The student is able to:

- conduct the theological analysis of the content of selected passages of the works of Methodius

- indicate the type of exegesis of biblical texts used by Methodius

- identify hidden philosophical assumptions of theological statements of Methodius

- compare the position of Methodius with other early Christian writers (Irenaeus, Origen, Basil of Ancyra, Gregory of Nyssa).

Assessment methods and criteria:

1. Active participation in lectures (attendance, participation in discussions) - 30%. Possible excused absence from 2 lectures.

2. Independent work verified by tasks / exercises during the semester - 20%.

3. Final oral exam or written assignment on an approved subject (15,000 characters) - 50%.