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TRS – Scott Barth
April 1 @ 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
At this week’s Theological Research Seminar, Scott Barth will be presenting, “The Problem of the “Twofold” Human: Shared Foundations and Divergent Teleologies in the Theological Anthropology of Nemesius of Emesa and Gregory of Nyssa”
Read the abstract and his bio below.
All are welcome to attend in Camelford Hall (room 226) at McMaster Divinity College at 1:00pm or via livestream at the link below:
Join the Livestream
Password: z00m (Note that the password has zeros rather than “o”)
Abstract
This study explores the problem of the “twofold” human—the union of a material body and a rational soul—in the anthropologies of Gregory of Nyssa and Nemesius of Emesa. Both fourth-century bishops operate within a shared intellectual framework rooted in Plato, Aristotelian psychology, Stoic cosmology, and Galenic medicine, yet they apply this framework toward different teleological ends. Nemesius advocates a “horizontal” mediation in which humanity serves as the cosmic bond (syndesmos), maintaining the created order through moral agency and rational authority. Gregory, by contrast, presents a “vertical” anthropology that views embodiment as, in part, a pedagogical instrument guiding the soul’s eschatological ascent into the divine likeness. Their divergence lies not primarily in their sources but in the teleological function they assign to human embodiment. These contrasting visions reveal two trajectories within early Christian anthropology: one focused on the moral governance of the cosmos and the other on humanity’s transformative participation in the divine life.
Bio
Scott Barth is a PhD student at MDC
About TRS
The MDC Theological Research Seminar (TRS) is a bimonthly gathering for all MDC students and faculty. TRS meets from 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM on alternating Wednesdays, and includes about thirty minutes for the paper presentation and twenty minutes for discussion.
All advanced degree students are invited to present a paper and share your research with your colleagues. TRS is an excellent opportunity to “test drive” a paper you will be presenting at an upcoming conference and receive helpful feedback on your current research projects. Thinking about submitting an article to a journal and want some interaction first? TRS will provide it. Just published an article or an essay and want to share it us? TRS is an excellent opportunity to broadcast it.
This year the organizing committee consists of Dr. James Dvorak, Dr. Phil Zylla, and Dr. Gord Heath. To submit a paper, contact a member of the organizing committee.
