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Chapter 2 - The Neoplatonic Background of a Text on Prophecy Attributed to John Chrysostom

from Part I - Philosophical Perspectives on Divination, Revelation, and Prophecy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2023

By
Andrei Timotin
Edited by
Elsa Giovanna Simonetti  and
Claire Hall
Elsa Giovanna Simonetti
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Claire Hall
Affiliation:
University of Durham
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Summary

This chapter draws attention to a little-known text attributed to John Chrysostom, which has so far not aroused the interest of specialists in ancient divination and prophecy: the prologue to the commentary on the Book of Jeremiah, which nevertheless enjoyed a certain popularity in the Byzantine world. The prologue exposes a classification of forms of prophecy that has no notable parallel in patristic literature. A significant parallel can be established instead with the Neoplatonic theory of divination, as set forth for example in Iamblichus’ Response to Porphyry (De mysteriis). This parallel concerns in particular the hierarchy of the forms of predictive knowledge, as well as the relationship between demonic and natural prophecy/divination. An English translation and a commentary of the fragment concerning the prophecy is given.

Keywords

prophecyJohn ChrysostomdivinationIamblichusNeoplatonism
Type
Chapter
Information
Divination and Revelation in Later Antiquity , pp. 32 - 48
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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