The Cappadocian Mothers : deification exemplified in the writings of Basil, Gregory, and Gregory

252 Pages·2017·0.976 MB·English

by  Bishop of Caesarea / approximately 329-379 Basil / Saint, Saint Gregory / of Nazianzus, Saint / approximately 335-approximately 394 Gregory / of Nyssa, Sunberg, Carla D.

“Carla Sunberg presents powerful examples of women—mothers and sis-
ters—who embodied and taught theosis, sometimes translated from the
Greek as ‘deification,’ or growth in holiness, Christ-likeness, and love. We’ve
only recently become aware of these ancient church women, and Sunberg
unveils how their lives and teachings embody spiritually formative practices
relevant today. The Cappadocian Mothers will inspire all who seek to live
holy, Christ-like lives, full of love.”
—Don Thorsen, Professor of Theology,
Azusa Pacific University Seminary
“Well-versed in feminist hermeneutical methodology, Carla Sunberg has
crafted a significant piece of historical retrieval. She has mined the writings
of fourth-century Cappadocian Fathers to learn of the significant witness
and influence of the women who helped shape their understanding of how
one becomes a participant in the divine nature. Her meticulous research
demonstrates that without these mothers in faith, the fathers would lack
living witnesses for their formulation of early Christian understandings
of Christology, mystical theology, and Trinitarian construction. Besides,
these remarkable women challenged regnant notions of the inferiority of
women. Sandberg has bridged a major gap in scholarship, and the whole
church will profit.”
—Molly T. Marshall, President, Professor of Theology and
Spiritual Formation, Central Seminary
“History has provided stories of the men who became heroes of the Chris-
tian faith in Cappadocia. Stories of the women were simply pushed aside,
partly because of the culture of the fourth-century Roman Empire. Dr. Carla
Sunberg brings to the forefront seven women who had significant impact on
those men church history has hailed as heroes. But it isn’t just that these
women influenced the patristic church; rather, they’re lives were used as
illustrations of theosis, ‘Christ in me the hope of glory’: our human process
of becoming like Christ as we seek to follow Christ closely. This informative,
well-researched, and accessible volume is important for women and men,
pastors and teachers, historians and storytellers.”
—MaryAnn Hawkins, Dean, Anderson University School of
Theology and Christian Ministry
“In this volume on The Cappadocian Mothers, Carla Sunberg has provided
a great gift to the modern church, and its release cannot be more timely. At
the dawn of the twenty-first century, the ancient Cappadocian witness of the
possibility of living a life characterized by ever-greater participation in God
speaks to a growing hunger among Christians for living and vibrant faith.
In addition to this hunger for knowing and living in God, there are many of
us who hunger to hear the voices of our mothers in the faith as well as the
voices of our fathers. While the first part of The Cappadocian Mothers is a
treasure trove of ancient wisdom, the latter part ‘brings it home’ to the life of
contemporary Christians. Sunberg addresses issues such as gender and class
equality, women in ministry leadership, as well as how the life of theosis is
grounded in the Christian household.”
—Cheryl Bridges Johns, Robert E. Fisher Chair of Spiritual
Renewal & Christian Formation,
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
The Cappadocian Mothers

The Cappadocian Mothers
Deification Exemplified in the Writings of Basil,
Gregory, and Gregory
Carla D. Sunberg
foreword by
T. A. Noble
THE CAPPADoCIAN MoTHERS
Deification Exemplified in the Writings of Basil, Gregory, and Gregory
Copyright © 2017 Carla D. Sunberg. All rights reserved. Except for brief quota-
tions in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in
any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permis-
sions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, oR 97401.
Pickwick Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3
Eugene, oR 97401
www.wipfandstock.com
paperback isbn: 978-1-4982-8241-3
hardcover isbn: 978-1-4982-8243-7
ebook isbn: 978-1-4982-8242-0
Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Names: Sunberg, Carla D. | Foreword by Noble, T. A.
Title: The Cappadocian mothers : deification exemplified in the writings of
Basil, Gregory, and Gregory / Carla D. Sunberg.
Description: Eugene, oR: Pickwick Publications, 2017 | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: isbn 978-1-4982-8241-3 (paperback) | isbn 978-1-4982-8243-7
(hardcover) | isbn 978-1-4982-8242-0 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Christian women saints—Biography | Macrina, the Elder,
Saint, -approximately 340 | Macrina the Younger, Saint, approximately 330–379
or 380 | Cappadocian Fathers | Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately
329–379 | Gregory of Nazianzus, Saint | Gregory of Nyssa, Saint, approximately
335–approximately 394 | Virginity—Religious aspects—Christianity—History
of doctrines—Early church, ca. 30–600
Classification: br1720.m22 s941 2017 (print) | br1720.m22 (ebook)
Manufactured in the U.S.A. 04/19/17
To the great men in my life:
My husband, Chuck Sunberg, without whom
this never would have come about,
My father, Jerald D. Johnson, who has been
my champion.
To the women in my life who lived in the
model of the great Cappadocian Mothers:
My grandmother, L. Marie Johnson, a Godly woman
who had more skills and abilities than the world
could handle at her time;
My mother, Alice Johnson, who was the equal partner
of her husband, the priest;
My mother-in-law, Thelma Sunberg, a modern-day Nonna
who dedicated her life in prayer for her children, all five
of whom have given their lives in service to the Lord.

Contents
Foreword by T. A. Noble | vii
Preface | xiii
Acknowledgments | xv
Abbreviations | xvii
1 Introduction | 1
2 The Christianization of Deification | 22
3 Christocentric Development | 47
4 The Development of Monasticism and the Role of Virginity
in the Cappadocian Understanding of Theosis | 74
5 The Fallen Virgin | 96
6 Married Women as the New Eve: Nonna and Gorgonia | 112
7 Macrina, the Perfect Virgin Bride | 133
8 Practical Implications for Life and Ministry: Macrina the Elder,
Emmelia, and Theosebia | 155
9 The Mothers Exemplify Deification | 185
Bibliography | 191
Index of Names | 209
Index of Subjects | 213
Index of Ancient Documents | 225
vii