Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Pages: 250
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9
978-1-9787-0078-9 • Hardback • September 2018 • $122.00 • (£94.00)
978-1-9787-0079-6 • eBook • September 2018 • $115.50 • (£89.00)
Benjamin Safranski is professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Chapter 1: Bishop and Bishops
Chapter 2: Structure and Definition of the College
Chapter 3: Exercises of Collegial Authority I—Discipline, Deposition, and Excommunication of Clergy
Chapter 4: Exercises of Collegial Authority II: Formulation of Doctrine
Chapter 5: Nicolas Afanasiev and Episcopal Collegiality in Cyprian
The topic is important, the basic question is interesting, and the greater part of the book is clear and well-argued, if not of startling originality.
— Reading Religion
Safranski has produced a solid and useful overview of Cyprian’s views on bishops and their relationships. . . . scholars of Cyprian will wish to read Safranski’s book, not least for his thorough
engagement with the main church-historical works (by Maurice Bévenot, Geoffrey Dunn, and others) that handle Cyprian’s concept of episcopacy and his interactions with other bishops. The book should help to stimulate the investigation into Cyprian’s own theology and his modern theological relevance which Safranski encourages in his conclusion.
— Journal of Ecclesiastical History
Dr. Safranski presents a careful scholarly study of Cyprian's understanding of the episcopacy and its contemporary application. This study is important both in advancing a more accurate understanding of Cyprian's view of the episcopate and episcopal collegiality, and for its ecumenical significance, especially in his dialogue with contemporary Orthodox scholar Nicholas Afanasiev's work on Catholic-Orthodox relations that refers to Cyprian and other Patristic sources. Dr. Safranski also revisits Cyprian's understanding of the episcopal office in relationship to the papacy, an important topic in ecclesiology and ecumenical studies. The book is a "must-read" for scholars in the field, and helpful to all interested in the bishop's role in early Church.
— Alan Schreck, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Safranski deftly navigates Cyprian's theological and social landscape to offer us a compelling picture of one bishop's understanding of collegial ecclesiology in the third century and its legacy for us today.
— Jared Ortiz, Hope College
A paradigmatic example of research into the patristic sources and retrieval of insights helpful to our own day. The balance of collective decision-making and individual leadership in Cyprian’s North Africa, challenged by persecution and disagreement, sheds light on current discussions of collegiality in the Church.
— David Williams, Belmont Abbey College
By a careful reading of primary sources and critical engagement with earlier scholars, Dr. Safranski has introduced an important nuance into the much-studied question of episcopal authority and collegiality in the writings St. Cyprian of Carthage. The engagement of his insights with the work of Orthodox theologian Nicolas Afanasiev connects the most significant reflection of the early church on the authority of bishops with significant contemporary questions of collegiality. This study offers a better understanding of major figure of the early church and contributes that understanding to important present-day theological discussions.
— Abbot Placid Solari O.S.B., Belmont Abbey College