St Theodore the Studite's Defence of the Icons: Theology and Philosophy in Ninth-Century Byzantium (Oxford Early Christian Studies)

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St Theodore the Studite's Defence of the Icons provides an investigation of the icon-theology of St Theodore the Studite, mainly as it is presented in his three refutations of the iconoclasts, the Antirrhetici tres adversus iconomachos. Torstein Theodor Tollefsen explores Theodore´s 'philosophy of images', namely his doctrine of images and his arguments that justify the legitimacy of images in general and of Christ in particular. Tollefsen offers a historical, theological, and philosophical exploration of Theodore's doctrine of images and his arguments justifying the legitimacy of images and of Christ. In addition to the main elements of Theodore´s defence of the icon, like the Christological issue, the relation between image and prototype, the question of veneration, his explanation of why we may say of an image that 'this is Christ', and his innovative thinking on the representative character of the icon, the book has an introduction that places Theodore in the history of Byzantine philosophy: he has some knowledge of traditional logical topics and is able to utilize argumentative forms in countering his iconoclast opponents. The volume also provides an appendix which shows that the making of images is somehow natural given the character of Christianity as a religion. Cover St Theodore the Studite’s Defence of the Icons: Theology and Philosophy in Ninth-Century Byzantium Copyright Dedication Preface Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction THE TOPIC EARLIER LITERATURE ON THE ICONOCLAST CONTROVERSY AND ON THEODORE CONCILIAR BACKGROUND 1: Method and Logic in Theodore’s Treatises METHOD THEODORE’S EDUCATION UNIVERSALS CATEGORIES HOMONYMY ARGUMENT 2: Circumscription CIRCUMSCRIPTION AND CHRISTOLOGICAL TRADITION ICONOCLAST CHRISTOLOGY THEODORE’S CHRISTOLOGY COMMUNICATIO IDIOMATUM APPEARANCE: DEFINING THE SUBJECT OF PAINTING 3: Relation PROTOTYPE AND IMAGE HONOUR PASSES FROM IMAGE TO PROTOTYPE HOMONYMY AND SYNONYMY 4: True Image or Idol of Deceit TRUE IMAGE MATTER MEMORY, CONTEMPLATION, AND VENERATION Conclusion APPENDIX: Why Should There Be Such a Thing as Christian Art at All? Bibliography Theodore Ancient and Medieval Texts and Translations Other Works Greek–English Glossary and Index Index of Passages Index of Names General Index