Christianity and Classical Culture: The Metamorphosis of Natural Theology in the Christian Encounter with Hellenism (Gifford Lectures Series)

Subtitled `The metamorphosis of Natural Theology in the Christian Encounter with Hellenism' this book examines the theological thought of the `Cappadocians'; Gregory of Nazianus, Basil of Cesarea, Gregory of Nyssa and the shadowy Macrina, sister of the last two. Pelikan argues that the `accident' of the New Testament being first written in Greek determined much of the philosophical complexion it has since acquired, and that the fourth century historical figures discussed played a major part in uniting Classical and Christian traditions. The book is based on the 1992 and 1993 Gifford lectures delivered at the University of Aberdeen.