Scripture and the Quest for Holiness in Late Antiquity

Abstract

Abstract The desert hermeneutic emerged in response to the pressing questions that filled the world of fourth-century Egypt. Two aspects of this world, the religious climate in which Egyptian monasticism was born and the quest for holiness that characterized the fourth century, are particularly important for situating the desert monks’ approach to Scripture in its living context. This means, first of all, placing the desert hermeneutic in relation to early Egyptian Christianity and the rise of monasticism there. Given the cultural, social, and religious complexity of the Egypt in which Christianity arose, and the wide range of possible influences on Egyptian Christianity, it is impossible to provide a simple account of monasticism’s rise and development. However, it is possible to make a rough sketch of some of the characteristic features of early Egyptian Christianity; such a picture can help to demonstrate the plausibility of strong biblical influence upon the birth and growth of Egyptian monasticism. In light of the many claims that have been made for the prominence of non-Christian influences on the origins of monasticism and for the irrelevance of the biblical tradition to the early monastic movement, such a reassessment is important and necessary. Second, we need to widen our field of vision to situate the desert hermeneutic within the debate on the holy between pagans and Christians in late antiquity. A comparison of their respective strategies for seeking holiness will reveal the extent to which the questions motivating the monastic quest were part of a larger conversation about the meaning of holiness in late antiquity. Such a comparison will also help to identify the characteristic features of the monastic quest for holiness and to suggest the significance of Scripture in shaping early monastic spirituality.