Demonstrative Proof in Defence of God : A Study of Titus of Bostra's Contra Manichaeos -- the Work's Sources, Aims and Relation to Its Contemporary Theology.

Intro -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- I. Introduction -- 1. The main interpretation -- Excursion: Manichaeism as Christian Gnosis -- 2. Overview of the study's structure -- II. Summary of Contents -- 1. Summary of Book I -- 2. Summary of Book II -- 3. Summary of Book III -- 4. Summary of Book IV -- III. Receptions, editions and scholarship history of Contra Manichaeos -- 1. Knowledge of Titus in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages -- 2. Reception of and scholarship on Contra Manichaeos from the end of the 16th century to De Lagarde's editions of the text in 1859 -- 3. Contra Manichaeos as a source of knowledge on Manichaeism -- 4. Titus as a theological and philosophical writer -- 5. Text transmission and history of editions -- IV. The historical and literary context for Titus of Bostra's Contra Manichaeos -- 1. Introductory remarks -- 2. The province of Arabia, conflicts between pagans and Catholics and the dating of Contra Manichaeos -- Excursion: Other works by Titus -- 3. Heresiology and anti-Manichaeism -- Excursion: Possible use of various patristic sources in Titus -- V. The audience for Contra Manichaeos and the portrayal of Manichaeism that Titus wished to present to them -- 1. The two audiences -- 2. Titus's portrayal of Manichaeism as barbarism, irrationalism and as a philosophy -- 3. Titus's portrayal of Manichaeism as determinism and immorality -- VI. The Manichaean texts used by Titus of Bostra -- 1 The relevance of the problem for this study -- 2. Heraclianus's information and Adda's works -- 3. The Manichaean source in Contra Manichaeos I + III.4&amp -- #8211 -- 5 -- 4. Other Manichaean sources in Contra Manichaeos Books III&amp -- #8211 -- IV -- 5. The Manichaean criticism of the Creator God in Contra Manichaeos III.7 -- a. Introduction -- b. Discussion of the non-Catholic polemical interpretations of the OT.

c. The philosophical and Marcionite background for the idea of the Creator's ignorance -- d. The philosophical and Gnostic background for the idea of the Creator's &amp -- #966 -- &amp -- #952 -- ó&amp -- #957 -- &amp -- #959 -- &amp -- #962 -- -- e. The positive evaluation of man's acquisition of knowledge in Gnostic texts -- f. Comparison with the original Manichaean literature -- g. Comparison with Augustine's portrayal of Manichaeism -- h. Comparison with Emperor Julian's treatise: Contra Galilaeos -- i. Problems and different solutions -- VII. Titus of Bostra's philosophical position -- 1. Titus's knowledge of philosophers and philosophical texts -- 2. Titus's concept of God and his basic philosophical position -- 3. The "common concepts -- 4. Titus's philosophical psychology -- VIII. Titus of Bostra's interpretation of the Paradise narrative -- 1. Introductory remark -- 2. The image of God in man -- 3. God's foreknowledge and man's disobedience -- 4. Comparison with earlier writers -- 5. Death as a benefit -- a. Titus's view of death in Book II and Book IV -- b. Death did not harm man -- c. The background to these ideas in the earlier tradition -- 6. Summarising remarks -- IX. Comparison between the exegesis of Genesis in Titus of Bostra and in a number of writers in "the Antiochene School -- 1. Plan for the following comparison -- 2. Outline of the interpretation of the Paradise narrative in Eusebius of Caesarea -- 3. Comparison with Eusebius of Emesa's interpretation of the Paradise narrative -- 4. Comparison with Diodore of Tarsus's interpretation of the Paradise narrative -- 5. Problems concerning Coisliniana, fragment no. 115 -- 6. Comparison with Theodore of Mopsuestia's interpretation of the Paradise narrative in his commentary on Genesis, illustrated by other Theodore fragments.

7. Comparison with Theodore of Mopsuestia's work: Against those who say that men sin by nature and not by intention -- 8. Comparison with the Constitutiones Apostolorum -- 9. Hypotheses to explain similarities between interpretations of the Paradise narrative -- X. Summary of the study's most important conclusions -- XI. Critical examinations of the text -- Bibliography -- Indices -- 1. General Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z -- 2. Index of Sources -- 3. Index of Persons -- a. Index of Ancient Persons -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- X -- Z -- b. Index of Modern Persons (after 1500) -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- Z.

This is the first extensive study of a major Patristic work, showing its importance for the history of Church and theology, Manichaean studies and the use of ancient philosophy. It includes a critical text and translation of central passages.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.