The Speech Act of Swearing: Gregory of Nazianzus’s Oath in Poema 2.1.2 in Context

Gregory of Nazianzus’s Poemata de seipso as a group are labeled “autobiography” erroneously. 2.1.2 provides a strong case study: it is formally structured as an oath, to be sworn by a bishop but with no definitive identification of speaker. As an oath it is well suited to the application of speech a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rebillard, Suzanne Abrams (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2013
In: Journal of early Christian studies
Year: 2013, Volume: 21, Issue: 2, Pages: 177-207
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:Gregory of Nazianzus’s Poemata de seipso as a group are labeled “autobiography” erroneously. 2.1.2 provides a strong case study: it is formally structured as an oath, to be sworn by a bishop but with no definitive identification of speaker. As an oath it is well suited to the application of speech act theory, which allows for interpretations with Gregory and/or any orthodox bishop as speaker. When further considered in light of other oaths as compositional models—professional (e.g. Hippocratic), magisterial, imperial loyalty, biblical—the poem’s scope expands beyond the “autobiographer” to encompass the episcopate and fourth-century culture more broadly.
ISSN:1086-3184
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/earl.2013.0011