Przemyslaw Nehring | Nicolaus Copernicus University (original) (raw)
Papers by Przemyslaw Nehring
Collectanea Philologica
The author of the article analyzes the similarities and differences in Augustine's and John Cassi... more The author of the article analyzes the similarities and differences in Augustine's and John Cassian's approaches to both the nature of lying as a sin and its possible permissibility or at least its pardonability in strictly defined situations. He argues for the position that it is impossible to say unequivocally whether Cassian undertook a conscious polemic with the Bishop of Hippo on this issue or even whether he was at all familiar with both or any of his treatises on lying. The fundamental difference between them regarding the issue of accepting intentionality in committing this absolute sin stems from the nature of the writings in which they articulated their views, their rhetorical context and the anthropological perspective of both authors.
Peeters Publishers eBooks, Nov 19, 2021
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2012
Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia, 2017
'Nos sumus tempora', 2020
Somewhere around the year 391 the work of quidam monachus was started in Rome. He promoted some t... more Somewhere around the year 391 the work of quidam monachus was started in Rome. He promoted some theses about virginity, marriage and asceticism in general which the Church elites of that time found somewhat controversial. 1 His name was Jovinian and he became the symbol of one of the most ardent moral controversies entangling Western Christianity in the late 4 th century when it forged its ideological stance. Owing to the testimony of his polemicists, we know that in the so-called commentarioli, written down in approximately 392, he claimed that the services of all classes among Christians-virgins, devout wives, and widows-should be treated equally. Secondly, he is also said to have claimed that Satan could not deceive and cause the downfall of those who were born anew from the waters of Holy Baptism. Thirdly, he allegedly believed that as far as the future life is concerned there is no difference between fasting and eating, on the condition, however, that the latter is done with appreciation and thanksgiving. Finally, he is also believed to have propagated the idea that in the Kingdom of Heaven there is one and the same reward awaiting all the baptized. 2 According to the unanimous opinion of Ambrose and Augustine, he also became involved in the fourth-century Mariological dispute by questioning Mary's virginity in partu. 3 Jovinian, as we learn from the sources left by Jerome, but also by Ambrose, Siricius, and finally by Augustine, invoked arguments in his teachings that were substantial 1 The chronology of events related to the Jovinian controversy is taken from Y.
The analysis of the quotations from the works of this famous Roman philosopher and also some hint... more The analysis of the quotations from the works of this famous Roman philosopher and also some hints to them with a declaration of their authorship leads to the conclusion that his authority exceeded in the world of Christian literature far beyond the sphere of similarities between Stoic and Christian ethics. The early Church authors refer to Seneca almost exclusively in the dispute with the well educated opponents of Christianity who based their critics on the philosophical, very often Stoic tradition. Seneca is regarded in the circle of Christian Latin writers as the most important and almost obvious philosophical authority. Quoting his words in support of the arguments concerning various theological issues used to enhance the position in the debate.
Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia, 2017
The Pelagians' ascetical practices were aiming at neither a kind of elitism nor perfectionism, ra... more The Pelagians' ascetical practices were aiming at neither a kind of elitism nor perfectionism, rather, they simply tried to instruct their women disciples on the physical and spiritual care management in Eastern Christian ascetic manners. Pelagius emphasized the free will of women and their dignity as being in the image of God. This was quite different from the negative evaluations of women's free will by Jerome, Augustine, and later Western priests, but quite similar to the affirmative perspectives of women's freedom of will by Eastern Church fathers like John Chrysostom. In this presentation, I would like to focus on the letters to Demetrias from Jerome, Pelagius, and Ps. Prosper; Pelagius' letters to a widow and a married woman; and Chrysostom's letter to Olympias. Critically considering the previous research on the letters to Demetrias (by A.S. Jacobs 2000, A. Kurdock 2003 and 2007, and K. Wilkinson 2015), I would like to evaluate the unique perspective that Pelagius offers of the ideal woman as described in the letters to Christian women, from an Eastern theological viewpoint.
Symbolae Philologorum Posnaniensium Graecae et Latinae, 2017
Nehring Przemysław, The Authority of Seneca in the Early Christian Argumentation. The paper deals... more Nehring Przemysław, The Authority of Seneca in the Early Christian Argumentation. The paper deals with the authority of Seneca as employed by the eminent early Christian writers in their apologetic as well as polemical works.
Vox Patrum, 2018
Author of this paper juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic concepts of St... more Author of this paper juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic concepts of St. Augustine and John Cassian, two figures that had the greatest impact on the development of the western pre-Benedictine monasticism. The difference in intellectual inspirations, personal monastic experiences, addressees of their monastic works and positions held by them in the institutional Church influenced very deeply their teaching. Thus they interpret in a different manner an account on the Jerusalem community (Acts 4:31-35) that – in their common opinion – began the history of monasticism. Cassian sees in it just the historical outset for this phenomenon while Augustine perceives it as a still valid model of behavior for his monks. They look differently at the relation of monastic communities towards the community of the Church but also at inner rules governing the life of monks in monasteries. Unlike Augustine, Cassian sees possibility of spiritual growth gained by monks throug...
Palamedes 2(2007), p. 189-199
NOS SUMUS TEMPORA STUDIES ON AUGUSTINE AND HIS RECEPTION OFFERED TO MATHIJS LAMBERIGTS. EDITED BY ANTHONY DUPONT – WIM FRANÇOIS – JOHAN LEEMANS, Peeters-Leuven, p.261-282 , 2020
Studia Patristica 118, p. 243-251, 2021
As we learn from the Retractationes, two of Augustine’s treatises, De bono coniugali and De sanct... more As we learn from the Retractationes, two of Augustine’s treatises, De bono coniugali and De sancta virginitate, were aimed to present his own views in the polemic on the merits of marriage and virginity which is customarily associated with Jerome and Jovinian. The reasoning of those primary antagonists, though very often based on the very same biblical passages, brought them to completely different conclusions. They also employed a number of clichéd arguments, two of which were particularly prominent in their argumentation: on the one hand, there were the examples of married Old Testament prophets, who were invoked to emphasise the great value of the institution of marriage, and, on the other, the hackneyed stereotypes of the so-called molestiae nuptiarum (‘ills of marriage’) that were customarily used to show married life in the worst possible light.
Augustine’s position in the controversy was at a far remove from these extremities. The aim of my article is to demonstrate the effective means he developed to defuse the stereotype-laden debate and give substance to his own moderate position by using a number of biblical quotations as premises for his arguments built in accordance with the schemes known from the classical theory of rhetoric.
Vox Patrum, 38 (2018) vol. 69, 2018
Author of this paper (written in Polish) juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for mona... more Author of this paper (written in Polish) juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic
concepts of St. Augustine and John Cassian, two figures that had the greatest
impact on the development of the western pre-Benedictine monasticism. The
difference in intellectual inspirations, personal monastic experiences, addressees
of their monastic works and positions held by them in the institutional Church influenced
very deeply their teaching. Thus they interpret in a different manner an account
on the Jerusalem community (Acts 4:31-35) that – in their common opinion
– began the history of monasticism. Cassian sees in it just the historical outset for
this phenomenon while Augustine perceives it as a still valid model of behavior for
his monks. They look differently at the relation of monastic communities towards
the community of the Church but also at inner rules governing the life of monks in
monasteries. Unlike Augustine, Cassian sees possibility of spiritual growth gained
by monks through ascetical practices and decisions made on their free will. This
anthropological optimism had played the key-role for the statement that Cassian
made in the face of radical views of Augustine on the Grace and free will, formulated
by him during the Pelagian controversy but also in other controversial issue,
namely of possible legitimacy of lying under particular circumstances.
Collectanea Philologica
The author of the article analyzes the similarities and differences in Augustine's and John Cassi... more The author of the article analyzes the similarities and differences in Augustine's and John Cassian's approaches to both the nature of lying as a sin and its possible permissibility or at least its pardonability in strictly defined situations. He argues for the position that it is impossible to say unequivocally whether Cassian undertook a conscious polemic with the Bishop of Hippo on this issue or even whether he was at all familiar with both or any of his treatises on lying. The fundamental difference between them regarding the issue of accepting intentionality in committing this absolute sin stems from the nature of the writings in which they articulated their views, their rhetorical context and the anthropological perspective of both authors.
Peeters Publishers eBooks, Nov 19, 2021
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2012
Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia, 2017
'Nos sumus tempora', 2020
Somewhere around the year 391 the work of quidam monachus was started in Rome. He promoted some t... more Somewhere around the year 391 the work of quidam monachus was started in Rome. He promoted some theses about virginity, marriage and asceticism in general which the Church elites of that time found somewhat controversial. 1 His name was Jovinian and he became the symbol of one of the most ardent moral controversies entangling Western Christianity in the late 4 th century when it forged its ideological stance. Owing to the testimony of his polemicists, we know that in the so-called commentarioli, written down in approximately 392, he claimed that the services of all classes among Christians-virgins, devout wives, and widows-should be treated equally. Secondly, he is also said to have claimed that Satan could not deceive and cause the downfall of those who were born anew from the waters of Holy Baptism. Thirdly, he allegedly believed that as far as the future life is concerned there is no difference between fasting and eating, on the condition, however, that the latter is done with appreciation and thanksgiving. Finally, he is also believed to have propagated the idea that in the Kingdom of Heaven there is one and the same reward awaiting all the baptized. 2 According to the unanimous opinion of Ambrose and Augustine, he also became involved in the fourth-century Mariological dispute by questioning Mary's virginity in partu. 3 Jovinian, as we learn from the sources left by Jerome, but also by Ambrose, Siricius, and finally by Augustine, invoked arguments in his teachings that were substantial 1 The chronology of events related to the Jovinian controversy is taken from Y.
The analysis of the quotations from the works of this famous Roman philosopher and also some hint... more The analysis of the quotations from the works of this famous Roman philosopher and also some hints to them with a declaration of their authorship leads to the conclusion that his authority exceeded in the world of Christian literature far beyond the sphere of similarities between Stoic and Christian ethics. The early Church authors refer to Seneca almost exclusively in the dispute with the well educated opponents of Christianity who based their critics on the philosophical, very often Stoic tradition. Seneca is regarded in the circle of Christian Latin writers as the most important and almost obvious philosophical authority. Quoting his words in support of the arguments concerning various theological issues used to enhance the position in the debate.
Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia, 2017
The Pelagians' ascetical practices were aiming at neither a kind of elitism nor perfectionism, ra... more The Pelagians' ascetical practices were aiming at neither a kind of elitism nor perfectionism, rather, they simply tried to instruct their women disciples on the physical and spiritual care management in Eastern Christian ascetic manners. Pelagius emphasized the free will of women and their dignity as being in the image of God. This was quite different from the negative evaluations of women's free will by Jerome, Augustine, and later Western priests, but quite similar to the affirmative perspectives of women's freedom of will by Eastern Church fathers like John Chrysostom. In this presentation, I would like to focus on the letters to Demetrias from Jerome, Pelagius, and Ps. Prosper; Pelagius' letters to a widow and a married woman; and Chrysostom's letter to Olympias. Critically considering the previous research on the letters to Demetrias (by A.S. Jacobs 2000, A. Kurdock 2003 and 2007, and K. Wilkinson 2015), I would like to evaluate the unique perspective that Pelagius offers of the ideal woman as described in the letters to Christian women, from an Eastern theological viewpoint.
Symbolae Philologorum Posnaniensium Graecae et Latinae, 2017
Nehring Przemysław, The Authority of Seneca in the Early Christian Argumentation. The paper deals... more Nehring Przemysław, The Authority of Seneca in the Early Christian Argumentation. The paper deals with the authority of Seneca as employed by the eminent early Christian writers in their apologetic as well as polemical works.
Vox Patrum, 2018
Author of this paper juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic concepts of St... more Author of this paper juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic concepts of St. Augustine and John Cassian, two figures that had the greatest impact on the development of the western pre-Benedictine monasticism. The difference in intellectual inspirations, personal monastic experiences, addressees of their monastic works and positions held by them in the institutional Church influenced very deeply their teaching. Thus they interpret in a different manner an account on the Jerusalem community (Acts 4:31-35) that – in their common opinion – began the history of monasticism. Cassian sees in it just the historical outset for this phenomenon while Augustine perceives it as a still valid model of behavior for his monks. They look differently at the relation of monastic communities towards the community of the Church but also at inner rules governing the life of monks in monasteries. Unlike Augustine, Cassian sees possibility of spiritual growth gained by monks throug...
Palamedes 2(2007), p. 189-199
NOS SUMUS TEMPORA STUDIES ON AUGUSTINE AND HIS RECEPTION OFFERED TO MATHIJS LAMBERIGTS. EDITED BY ANTHONY DUPONT – WIM FRANÇOIS – JOHAN LEEMANS, Peeters-Leuven, p.261-282 , 2020
Studia Patristica 118, p. 243-251, 2021
As we learn from the Retractationes, two of Augustine’s treatises, De bono coniugali and De sanct... more As we learn from the Retractationes, two of Augustine’s treatises, De bono coniugali and De sancta virginitate, were aimed to present his own views in the polemic on the merits of marriage and virginity which is customarily associated with Jerome and Jovinian. The reasoning of those primary antagonists, though very often based on the very same biblical passages, brought them to completely different conclusions. They also employed a number of clichéd arguments, two of which were particularly prominent in their argumentation: on the one hand, there were the examples of married Old Testament prophets, who were invoked to emphasise the great value of the institution of marriage, and, on the other, the hackneyed stereotypes of the so-called molestiae nuptiarum (‘ills of marriage’) that were customarily used to show married life in the worst possible light.
Augustine’s position in the controversy was at a far remove from these extremities. The aim of my article is to demonstrate the effective means he developed to defuse the stereotype-laden debate and give substance to his own moderate position by using a number of biblical quotations as premises for his arguments built in accordance with the schemes known from the classical theory of rhetoric.
Vox Patrum, 38 (2018) vol. 69, 2018
Author of this paper (written in Polish) juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for mona... more Author of this paper (written in Polish) juxtaposes several issues which are fundamental for monastic
concepts of St. Augustine and John Cassian, two figures that had the greatest
impact on the development of the western pre-Benedictine monasticism. The
difference in intellectual inspirations, personal monastic experiences, addressees
of their monastic works and positions held by them in the institutional Church influenced
very deeply their teaching. Thus they interpret in a different manner an account
on the Jerusalem community (Acts 4:31-35) that – in their common opinion
– began the history of monasticism. Cassian sees in it just the historical outset for
this phenomenon while Augustine perceives it as a still valid model of behavior for
his monks. They look differently at the relation of monastic communities towards
the community of the Church but also at inner rules governing the life of monks in
monasteries. Unlike Augustine, Cassian sees possibility of spiritual growth gained
by monks through ascetical practices and decisions made on their free will. This
anthropological optimism had played the key-role for the statement that Cassian
made in the face of radical views of Augustine on the Grace and free will, formulated
by him during the Pelagian controversy but also in other controversial issue,
namely of possible legitimacy of lying under particular circumstances.
Publikacja dofinansowana przez Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego Imprimi potest: Opactwo ... more Publikacja dofinansowana przez Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego Imprimi potest: Opactwo Benedyktynów L.dz. 160/2009, Tyniec, dnia 24.09.2009 r. † Bernard Sawicki OSB, opat tyniecki ISBN 978-83-7354-302-7 broszura ISBN 978-83-7354-303-4 oprawa twarda
Multi-dimensional and methodologically diverse study of St. Augustine's correspondence This volu... more Multi-dimensional and methodologically diverse study of St. Augustine's correspondence
This volume contains the proceedings of the international symposium on Augustine’s correspondence held at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland) on 25-26 June 2015, which was a part of a wider project dedicated to the study of Augustine’s correspondence. Another part of the project is a fully searchable on-line catalogue of issues present in the Letters (www.scrinium.umk.pl).
The papers presented in the book access the large corpus of Augustine’s epistles from various academic perspectives (theological, philosophical, historical, literary and rhetorical). First, the present study is thematically more wide-ranging than any of those that had been previously published on this subject; second, it is interdisciplinary in its focus and methodology; third, it provides new, substantial insights into selected problems of Augustine’s work; fourth, it approaches the Letters from two complementary, methodological perspectives: the first part of the book contains papers which study widely defined problem in the light of the whole corpus, while those in the second part deal with specific problems found in particular letters. The result is a significant contribution to our understanding of the complex and fascinating Augustinian world, seen through the lens of his letters, made by authors whose academic experience and scholarly achievements guarantee its quality.
Starożytna literatura monastyczna obejmuje swym zakresem wiele bardzo różnych gatunkowo form. Wśr... more Starożytna literatura monastyczna obejmuje swym zakresem wiele bardzo różnych gatunkowo form. Wśród reprezentujących ją utworów znajdziemy szeroko rozumiane dzieła hagiograficzne, wczesne reguły mnisze, listy, dialogi, kazania oraz dzieła, których nie da się zakwalifikować do żadnego z wymienionych wyżej rodzajów literackich. Kryterium, jakie pozwala łączyć te pisma w jedną kategorię, nie ma charakteru literackiego, ale wyłącznie ideowy. Są to zatem różne dzieła, które towarzyszyły dynamicznie rozwijającemu się od drugiej połowy IV wieku ruchowi monastycznemu, najpierw w Egipcie, potem na całym chrześcijańskim Wschodzie, a wkrótce i w świecie łacińskiego Zachodu. Zachowane do naszych czasów utwory z tego literackiego kręgu dokumentują to niezwykle ważne dla całej przyszłości chrześcijaństwa zjawisko. Dzięki nim poznajemy jego podstawy teologiczne, historyczny rozwój, społeczno -kulturowe uwarunkowania, ale dowiadujemy się też o psychologicznych motywacjach ludzi podejmujących wyzwanie całkowitego wyrzeczenia się świata doczesnego i odejścia w samotności na pustynię albo przyłączenia się do monastycznej wspólnoty.