CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2021
| Author | Mills, Glenn Adam |
|---|---|
| Title | Christianity's Judicial Voice: Elements of Roman Private Law in Latin Christian Sources (2nd to 5th Century CE) |
| Summary | This thesis explores the rhetorical use of the terminology and concepts of Roman private law by the early Church Fathers and Patristic authors during the period spanning the late second to the early fifth century CE. Other scholars have studied the intersectionality of Christianity and Roman law but have tended to focus on the ways in which Christians contributed to the development of Roman Law and, later, Canon Law. Less attention has been paid to the use of Roman law in a purely metaphorical, analogous or explicatory capacity as it appears in certain theological sources. This thesis looks at three areas of private law (contract law, property law and family law) in relation to three Christian case studies (Tertullian, Augustine and Lactantius). In each case, it is argued that these authors invoked Roman private law as a tool for explaining the relationship and obligations between man and God. It is argued that Roman law constituted a readily available hegemonic apparatus, the use of which could consolidate Christian arguments during a period in which the prosperity of the faith was far from certain. |
| Supervisor | Geréby, György |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2021/mills_glenn-adam.pdf |
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