Mary as Un-tier and Tier of Knots: Irenaeus Reinterpreted

Though scholars have amply documented the seminal role of Irenaeus of Lyons in the development of Marian theology, Irenaeus uses a rare metaphor in Adversus Haereses 3.22.4 that has yet to be fully explored: “the knot of Eve's disobedience was untied through Mary's obedience.” Why does Ire...

Descrizione completa

Salvato in:  
Dettagli Bibliografici
Autore principale: Fiat Miola, Maria del, Sr. (Autore)
Tipo di documento: Elettronico Articolo
Lingua:Inglese
Verificare la disponibilità: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Caricamento...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Pubblicazione: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press [2016]
In: Journal of early Christian studies
Anno: 2016, Volume: 24, Fascicolo: 3, Pagine: 337-361
(sequenze di) soggetti normati:B Irenaeus, Lugdunensis 140-202 / Mariologia / Peccato originale
Notazioni IxTheo:KAB Cristianesimo delle origini
NBE Antropologia
NBJ Mariologia
Accesso online: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Descrizione
Riepilogo:Though scholars have amply documented the seminal role of Irenaeus of Lyons in the development of Marian theology, Irenaeus uses a rare metaphor in Adversus Haereses 3.22.4 that has yet to be fully explored: “the knot of Eve's disobedience was untied through Mary's obedience.” Why does Irenaeus choose such a seemingly weak image to describe the redemption of humanity? The present study shows through a close exegesis of the whole passage that Mary not only unties the knot of Satan, sin, and death, but she does so through an inverse tying of her own. Analysis of the ubiquitous literary, artistic, and material sources in the ancient Greco-Roman world reveals that the knot was a powerful and ambivalent symbol, connoting virginity and healing at the same time as bondage and constraint of the will. Irenaeus's knot finally emerges as an eloquent and multivalent symbol for Mary's crucial role in Christ's recapitulation.
ISSN:1086-3184
Comprende:Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/earl.2016.0029