Last month, the History of Philosophy Forum sponsored the Notre Chicago Early Christian Studies Workshop. Organized by Grayden McCashen, at the time a Maritain Center staff member and HPF research affiliate, along with Eric DeVilliers of the Lumen Christi Institute, the seminar saw early career scholars and PhD candidates from Notre Dame, Lumen Christi, and University of Chicago convene to discuss their projects. The workshop was hosted by Lumen Christi at the Gavin House near the University of Chicago’s campus.
The first presenter, Eric Devilliers, gave an overview of his project on the ways early Christian writers interpreted biblical theophanies. Arising from his PhD research at Notre Dame’s Theology Department, Eric’s project aims to show the complexity of early Christian interpretations of theophany in a wide range of sources. This work will add nuance to previous treatments, which tend to focus on a narrow aspect of Augustine’s interpretation, and shed light on the famous Christological controversies of the fifth century. Eric’s participation in the workshop as both an organizer and presenter constituted one of his final acts as a postdoctoral research fellow at Lumen Christi before taking a position as Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology at Duquesne University.
Emily Barnum, a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago, gave an overview of a chapter of her dissertation project. The research focuses on 2 Corinthians, especially the use of “canon” in 2 Cor. 10:12-18. It is part of a larger project on the process of canonization in early Christianity, and how theological authority was tested and approved in the earliest Christian communities.
Emily’s presentation was followed by another on the early Apostles. Lauren Beversluis, another University of Chicago PhD candidate, presented an overview of her work on Peter in early Christian art. Focusing on representations of Peter in Rome, the presentation covered a wide array of images, including many that represent Peter as a Second Moses.
The later afternoon sessions gave us a chance to hear from two Notre Dame PhD graduates and current neighbors of the Maritain Center at the McGrath Institute. First, Joshua McManaway (Asst. Professor of Practice; Program Director, Savoring the Mystery; Academic Director, Take a Second Look) presented an upcoming project on the Apostle’s Creed. Aimed for a general readership, the project will explain the original significance and meaning of the claims and clauses of the creed, including why, for example, it was important to specify that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Joshua also shared insights on transitioning from the dissertation project to a second book.
Finally, Grant Gasse discussed the process of revising his Notre Dame PhD thesis, “Irenaeus of Lyons and the Theology of Incarnational Discourse,” for publication as a monograph. Grant’s project discusses how categories like paternity, virginity, and the incarnation, as well as philosophy of language, make sense of the theological controversies in the second century. His work focuses especially on Irenaeus of Lyons, the most ancient Doctor of the Church.
July’s workshop was the first in what projects to be a regular collaboration, designed to cultivate community and collaboration amongst the many institutions that support research into early Christianity at Notre Dame and in the Chicago area. If you’re interested in attending the next workshop, reach out to Grant Gasse for further information.