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Episode 164·April 25, 2023·christian-fathers

Theology, Politics, and Radiant Darkness: Michael Motia on Gregory of Nyssa

We are honoured to have Michæl Motia, scholar of religion, on the podcast to discuss Gregory of Nyssa, one of the most important Christian theologians and the fountainhead of ideas of divine infinity and of divine presence-as-absence-as-presence at the heart of Christian mysticism.

Listen on SHWEP40 sources in collection · 40 translated

Primary Sources

Greek Old Testament

Anonymous · 975 · Greek · 523 pages

About the author (Anonymous): Anonymous may refer to:Anonymity, the state of an individual's identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown Anonymous work, a work of art or literature that has an unnamed or unknown creator or author Anonymity, a property of a voting rule, s

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Hebrew Bible

Anonymous · 1150 · Hebrew · 580 pages

The Hebrew Bible presents a brutal and honest account of humanity attempting to live under the shadow of a demanding deity. It moves from the origins of the cosmos to the intricate rules of social and ritual life. Readers encounter heroes who are deeply flawed and a God whose actions are often as te

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Pal.lat.1328

Hermes Trismegistus; Avicenna; al-Razi · 1400 · Latin · 170 pages

Pal.lat.1328 is a monumental synthesis of Hermetic philosophy and medieval Arabic science, offering a rare glimpse into the systematic pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone. The text makes the bold claim that alchemy is 'lower astronomy'—a sacred art where metals act as terrestrial stars and volatile s

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The Hermetic Corpus

Hermes Trismegistus · 1450 · Latin · 319 pages

Ott.lat.2074 is a breathtaking intellectual odyssey that bridges the gap between ancient Hermetic mystery and the rigorous structuralism of the Middle Ages. The text presents a world where the 'First Cause' is pursued through every available lens: the precision of Aristotelian categories, the negati

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Reg.lat.1352

Hermes Trismegistus · 1450 · Latin · 432 pages

This manuscript is a monumental synthesis of classical literature and Hermetic philosophy, featuring the voices of Virgil, Servius, Apuleius, and the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. It boldly navigates the transition from the physical world of agriculture and apiculture to the metaphysical realms of

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Biblia Sacra (Gutenberg Bible)

Johannes Gutenberg · 1455 · Latin · 192 pages

This text preserves the Vulgate translation, serving as a monument to the collision between human fallibility and divine authority. Jerome asserts that understanding scripture requires disciplined study rather than casual opinion. You will encounter the foundational narratives of the world, from the

13% translated

Biblia: Luther Bible (1535)

Martin Luther · 1535 · German · 1377 pages

This 1535 edition of the Biblia represents a seminal moment in Christian history, capturing the work of Martin Luther at the height of his theological influence. As the primary figure of the Protestant Reformation, Luther’s unique perspective as a scholar and former friar transformed the Bible from

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The Chaldean Oracles

Zoroaster · 1539 · Latin · 34 pages

This text offers a rare, syncretic exploration of Zoroastrian oracles interpreted through the lens of Neoplatonic and Christian thought. It presents a universe structured in three distinct parts—the eternal, the immortal but generated, and the decaying—and positions the human soul as a mediator 'glu

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Corpus Hermeticum and Plotinus' Enneads (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.9.9)

Hermes Trismegistus; Plotinus · 1550 · Greek · 502 pages

This rare collection documents the struggle of the human soul to recognize its divine origin while trapped in the sensible world. It presents the Hermetic tradition as an intuitive, performative realization of truth, contrasted against the systematic, dialectical path of Plotinus. The text argues th

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Poimandres

Hermes Trismegistus · 1554 · Greek · 254 pages

This collection functions as a foundational guide for those seeking to understand the nature of God, the soul, and the cosmos. Hermes Trismegistus argues that the physical world is a veil, and that ignorance of one's own divinity is the ultimate human disaster. The text demands that you reject world

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Orphic and Homeric Hymns

Orpheus; Homer; Callimachus · 1560 · Greek · 69 pages

This remarkable collection offers an intimate look at the intersection of ancient Greek theology, ritual practice, and poetic tradition. By weaving together the Orphic perspective on cosmogony with the Homeric celebration of divine exploits, the text presents a world where every natural force—from t

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The Bible

Unknown · 1564 · Dutch · 920 pages
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Poimandres

Hermes Trismegistus · 1574 · Greek-Latin · 168 pages

Poimandres is a foundational pillar of Western esotericism that posits humanity as a 'divine animal' caught between the material and the eternal. Purported to be the work of the legendary Hermes Trismegistus—a syncretic fusion of the Greek Hermes and Egyptian Thoth—this tractate offers a radical cos

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The Shepherd of Men

Hermes Trismegistus · 1585 · Latin · 532 pages

Readers will find an argument that the world is a sentient, organized entity governed by divine justice. The author, Hannibal Rosseli, attempts to reconcile classical philosophy with the teachings of the Church. He posits that justice is the defining trait of humanity and that the soul's return to G

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Philosophical Magic: Zoroaster and his 320 Chaldean Oracles

Francesco Patrizi (ed.) · 1593 · Latin · 522 pages

This work reclaims the identity of Zoroaster as a primordial philosopher rather than a mythical figure. Patrizi argues that the cosmos is a divine construction, pulsating with the activity of the Paternal Mind and maintained by the soul. Readers will find a rigorous defense of theurgy as a legitimat

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Philosophical Magic: The Chaldean Oracles

Francesco Patrizi · 1593 · Latin · 530 pages

This text provides a bridge between ancient pagan theology and the Christian era by asserting that the oldest sages were actually practitioners of a high, holy religion. Patrizi challenges the Aristotelian status quo of his time by arguing that philosophy is inherently tied to theurgy and the animat

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Biblical Palimpsest with Inquisition Abjuration Documents

· 1610 · Greek · 197 pages

The Hermetic Corpus stands as one of the most provocative syncretic works in history, blending the legendary insights of Hermes Trismegistus with the foundational theology of early Christianity. It makes the bold claim that spiritual liberation is a process of 'gnosis'—a transformation of the mind t

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The Five Books of Moses

Unknown · 1635 · Hebrew · 318 pages

This monumental work presents the 'Five Books of Moses' as a labor of both divine revelation and scholarly perfection. Correcting over three hundred errors from previous printings, Menasseh ben Israel offers a text designed to 'show the peoples and the princes its beauty.' It traces the cosmic origi

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The Holy Bible

Unknown · 1726 · German · 954 pages
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On Isis and Osiris

Plutarch · 1744 · Latin · 338 pages

In this treatise, Plutarch rescues Egyptian theology from the twin errors of superstition and skepticism. He argues that myths about dismemberment and divine struggle are not accounts of ancient kings, but symbolic representations of moral and metaphysical forces. By mapping these stories onto the b

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The Mystical Initiations; or, Hymns of Orpheus

Thomas Taylor · 1787 · Greek · 258 pages

This volume is an act of defiance against the modern reduction of religion to mere history or folklore. Taylor argues that the Greek theological tradition is a coherent, scientific approach to reality that utilizes polytheism to express the hierarchy of a single, unified source. By translating these

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Biblia Sacra Vulgatae: Clementine Vulgate Latin Bible

Jerome (Sixtine-Clementine edition) · 1804 · Latin · 1019 pages

This 1804 Venice edition of the Biblia Sacra Vulgatae stands as a monument to ecclesiastical history and structural precision. Authorized by the successive mandates of Popes Sixtus V and Clement VIII, this version represents the definitive Sixtine-Clementine standard that shaped Catholic liturgy for

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Orphica (Argonautica, Hymni, Lithica)

Gottfried Hermann (ed.) · 1805 · Greek/Latin · 1049 pages

This volume is not just a poem; it is an argument about how we reconstruct the past. Hermann and Gesner treat the Argonautica and the Lithica as damaged artifacts, using rigorous philology to peel away the layers of corruption added by centuries of scribes. They engage with the Orphic texts to uncov

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Astuatsashunch: Armenian Bible, Old Testament (Zohrab)

Hovhannes Zohrab (ed.) · 1805 · Armenian · 1309 pages

This edition serves as a corrective to the flawed printing history that plagued the Armenian Bible for generations. Zohrab rejects foreign influences and editorial laziness, opting instead for a systematic collation of ancient manuscripts. He defends the integrity of the Septuagint-based Armenian tr

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Armenian Bible, New Testament (Zohrab)

Hovhannes Zohrab (ed.) · 1805 · Armenian · 1607 pages

This volume stands as a monument to the Armenian translation tradition, blending ancient linguistic heritage with the editorial care of Hovhannes Zohrab. Zohrab does not merely present a text; he investigates the differences between manuscripts to provide an accurate, corrected reading. He argues th

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Orphica

Orpheus (ed. Gottfried Hermann) · 1805 · Greek · 1030 pages

Gottfried Hermann does not offer a polished myth but a raw, confrontational look at how we inherit the ancient past. He forces the reader to confront the reality that many famous works were misattributed, patched together, or distorted by centuries of scribal error. The text exposes the vanity of th

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The Holy Bible (Wycliffe), Vol. 1

John Wycliffe / Forshall & Madden (eds.) · 1850 · Hebrew-Greek · 770 pages

This edition documents the volatile birth of English biblical translation and the bold reformers behind it. It challenges the historical narrative of the Wycliffite movement by clearly distinguishing between the early and later versions of the text. By analyzing manuscript history and editorial meth

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The Holy Bible (Wycliffe), Vol. 2

John Wycliffe / Forshall & Madden (eds.) · 1850 · Hebrew-Greek · 908 pages

Wycliffe's translation offers a raw and direct look at the power dynamics between heaven and earth. It does not soften the brutal realities of ancient rule or the intense weight of divine judgment. The text presents history as a series of moral choices where obedience to the unseen God outweighs pol

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The Holy Bible (Wycliffe), Vol. 3

John Wycliffe / Forshall & Madden (eds.) · 1850 · English · 916 pages

John Wycliffe and his followers created this translation to put the uncompromising clarity of scripture directly into the hands of the people. The text strips away human pride to focus on the cold reality of divine judgment and the necessity of personal discipline. It argues that physical beauty and

56% translated

The Holy Bible (Wycliffe), Vol. 4

John Wycliffe / Forshall & Madden (eds.) · 1850 · English · 786 pages

John Wycliffe's translation challenges readers to look past religious tradition to find the core authority of Jesus Christ. The text forces a choice between worldly status and the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing faith over legalism. It presents a world where the heart's true state matters more than o

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Al-Kitab al-Muqaddas: Arabic Bible

Eli Smith & Cornelius Van Dyck · 1865 · Arabic · 1714 pages

The authors present the Bible in a clear, accessible Arabic that maintains the weight of its original theological claims. By pairing the books of the Bible with a structured index of Quranic Surahs, the work highlights the points of contact between these two great traditions. Readers will encounter

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Plutarch's Morals, Vol. 4 (includes Isis and Osiris)

Plutarch (trans. William W. Goodwin) · 1870 · English · 538 pages

In this compelling volume of 'Morals,' Plutarch investigates the enigmatic mechanics of the 'spirit of divination,' arguing that prophecy is as much a physical phenomenon as it is a divine one. By examining the transformative power of natural vapors and the 'dry' temperament of the soul, he suggests

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Orphica (Abel Edition, with Proclus Hymns & Hymn to Isis)

Orpheus (ed. Eugen Abel) · 1885 · Greek · 340 pages

Eugen Abel reconstructs the Orphic tradition by stripping away centuries of editorial clutter. He aligns fragmented myths and hymns into a logical sequence, transforming obscure lore into a cohesive theological system. The text argues that music, ritual, and language possess the power to move mounta

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On the Chaldean Oracles

Wilhelm Kroll · 1894 · Latin · 90 pages

In 'De oraculis Chaldaicis', Wilhelm Kroll performs a masterclass in philological detective work, reconstructing the lost fragments of a text that Neoplatonists like Proclus considered more authoritative than Plato himself. This work navigates the high-stakes tension between rigorous historical crit

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Hexaglot Bible: Hebrew, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, English, German, French

Various · 1901 · Multiple (Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic) · 710 pages

Experience the Bible like never before through a monumental six-language parallel edition that bridges ancient manuscripts and modern translations. Discover the intricate genealogy of Jesus Christ by comparing the Hebrew, Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac texts side-by-side with modern European master

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Clement of Alexandria II: Stromata I-VI

Clement of Alexandria · 1906 · Greek · 560 pages

Clement argues that all wisdom originates from a singular divine source. He asserts that Greek philosophy serves as a vital tool for the believer, provided it is treated as a preparation rather than the final destination. The text demands intellectual rigor and warns against the vanity of mere debat

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Old Testament in Syriac (Peshitta)

Trinitarian Bible Society · 1913 · Syriac · 548 pages

The Peshitta serves as a vital anchor for understanding how early Aramaic-speaking communities received and interpreted the sacred text. Beyond the foundational narratives of Genesis and the Exodus, it integrates mystical and liturgical commentaries that link the physical body to spiritual salvation

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Philostratus and Eunapius: The Lives of the Sophists (Loeb)

Philostratus & Eunapius · 1921 · English · 626 pages

The Sophists were more than teachers; they were the celebrities of the Roman Empire, capable of swaying crowds and emperors alike with nothing but their voice. Philostratus and Eunapius capture their arrogance, their brilliance, and the intense rivalries that fueled their rise. This text reveals a w

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Orphic Fragments

Otto Kern (ed.) · 1922 · Greek · 434 pages

Otto Kern reconstructs the fragmented legacy of Orpheus to reveal the evolution of Greek religious thought. The text examines the historical validity of Orpheus while documenting his influence on figures like Pythagoras and Plato. It presents a radical theology where the creator Phanes is swallowed

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The Hermetic Writings, Volume I: Texts and Translation

Walter Scott (ed.) · 1924 · Greek · 556 pages

This volume is a monumental reconstruction of the Hermetic tradition, presenting a world where philosophy is not merely an academic exercise but a literal means of deification. Scott challenges the notion that these texts are mere 'occult rubbish,' instead revealing them as the profound response of

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