Early Christian Discernment of Spirits: The Pauline Epistles. The Didache. The Epistle of Clement. The Epistle of Barnabas. The Shepherd of Hermas. ... (56)

by Elisabeth Hense

Based upon a comparative analysis, this book argues that early notions of 'discernment of spirits' are not superior to later ones. Discernment of spirits is not a matter of an apostolically fixed ideal that should be traditionally cleaved to, but, above all, is a continual re-shaping and restructuring of this tradition. Christians were not expected to imitate the discernment of others, but rather were encouraged to make judgments for themselves. Dr. Elisabeth Hense is Assistant Professor for Spiritual Theology at Radboud University Nijmegen (NL).

194 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2016