Maximus Confessor: Selected Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality) (English and Ancient Greek Edition) by Maximus the Confessor (PDF)

Description

Maximus is called the Confessor because of his sufferings and labors for the true faith. During the seventh century when the monothelite heresy (belief that Christ had only one will—–a divine one) plagued the Church, Maximus eloquently demonstrated that Christ had both human and divine natures. Writing in the introduction to this volume Jaroslav Pelikan highlights the relevance of Maximus’ writings for today: “It was the genius of Maximus Confessor that, in a measure that has been granted only to a few, he was fully bilingual, affirming by means of negation and speaking both the language of spirituality and the language of theology with equal fluency. From the looks of things within both Western and Eastern Christendom——-and beyond——that gift of being bilingual is one that people of faith will need more than ever in the years to come.”

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I love the trial of Maximus where they try to get him to deny his beliefs. He told them where to go,

⭐Excellent book but it was shipped in a flimsy envelope and the corner of the book was damaged. I hate it when I purchase something new and it arrives banged up.

⭐This is NOT a bilingual book, as the description implies. There is no Greek text in this book. Everything is only in English.

⭐Mark Twain once quipped that “a great book” is a book everyone wants to have read and no one wants to read. My experience with this volume of Maximus the Confessor is I’m happier having read it than I was reading it. So I consider that a downside of this book – valuable information dryly presented. Indeed, Professor Dalmais states in the book’s Preface that “reading the texts of Maximus is arduous”.

⭐holds the interest far more.That said, there’s plenty here worth reading. For example:”It is said that there are five reasons why we are allowed to be warred upon by the demons. First, so that in an offensive and defensive battle we come to distinguish virtue and vice. Second, that in acquiring virtue by struggles and toils we shall hold on to it firmly and steadfastly. Third, that while advancing in virtue we do not become haughty but learn rather to be humble. Fourth, that having experienced vice we will hate it with a consummate hate. Fifth, and most important, that when we become detached we do not forget either our own weakness or the power of the one who has helped us” (p. 56).Historically, Maximus is an important figure in the development of Christian theology because of: 1, his “rehabilitation of Dionysius the Areopagite”; 2, his championing the article of faith Jesus Christ had two wills (human and Divine) rather than just one (Divine). In the time of Maximus the Confessor this was a burning theological issue for it involved making clear Jesus Christ was true God and true man.If you are interested in Mariology, you also may wish to read the earliest known biography of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which book is attributed to Maximus the Confessor,

⭐. While I was only able to borrow The Life of the Virgin for a very brief time, what I had time to read was very interesting.

⭐Purchased this to add to my Classics of Western Spirituality collection. When I get around to reading it, probably years from now, I’ll probably review it then.

⭐St. Maximus the Confessor lived during the time when the eastern half of the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church was battling a heresy called the Monothelite controversy dealing between the unity or duality of will in relation to nature. Today many think the issue was due to cultural language limitations between Greek & Arabic, political problems within the Byzantine empire, & the rapid spread of Islam. Either way St. Maximus was the champion of Orthodoxy defending the view that Jesus was fully God & fully human in his incarnation, therefore he had 2 natures, & each nature had a will. Jesus expressed these ideas when he said “Not my will be done, but thy will be done” verses “I am in the Father” which pointed in the other direction. The 1st section of the book deals with St. Maximus’s trial before the Byzantine Emperor where many false witness accused the Saint of being against the Emperor. St. Maximus quickly & rightly goes to the source of the matter & asks for proof, of course there is none, its all hear-say (heresy). For historical note: St. Maximus was finally accused, had his tongue & one of his hands cut off, & sent into exile where he shortly died. The masterpiece of this book is the 100 Chapters of Love, where St. Maximus takes several scriptures & many writings from the Church Fathers, & explains in great detail what Love is. The 1st time I read this book, I tried to read it as a whole book, this was a mistake. The 2nd time I read it, I read a verse at a time. St. Maximus writes with such tight exact meaning, that each word is overwhelming. Therefore for maximum (Maximus) enjoyment, read this section like a poem & then pray or reflex on each line. Another section is a great commentary on the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father”. Each verse gets a few paragraphs of detail. This book is not for the soft hearted or for the easy to read crowd, but for people that enjoy deep books.

⭐This is a very well prepared and significant edition of some of the most important writings of this outstanding Greek theologian.

⭐Great product, thanks.

⭐very nice

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