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Discernment in the Desert Fathers: Diakrisis in the Life and Thought of Early Egyptian Monasticism
Discernment in the Desert Fathers is a study of discernment (diakrisis) in the life and thought of the fourth- and fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers. Rich argues that their understanding of diakrisis was based upon a practical application of biblical diakrisis in general and not, as has been argued, primarily a development of the gift of "discernment of spirits." He begins with an examination of Scripture and goes on to consider the philosophical and theological background of the period as represented by Plotinus and Origen respectively. An examination of the works of the first "theologians of the desert," Evagrius and Cassian, who lived among these first Christian monks and nuns, provides an early interpretation of the sayings of the Desert Fathers or Apophthegmata Patrum. The Greek, Latin, and Coptic sayings that survive are then examined in detail, some of them translated into English for the first time. This in-depth analysis (including the comprehensive list of cross-references, which will be a valuable resource for scholars) provides many insights into the lives of these early Christians and demonstrates how diakrisis touched every aspect of their inward and outward lives. Rich concludes that diakrisis was a critical faculty and charism central to the spiritual and practical life of these early monks and nuns in their mystical search for God, for purity of life, and knowledge of him.
About the Author:
Antony D. Rich (PhD, University of Wales) is an Associate Research Fellow, Director of Extended Learning, and Open Learning Tutor at Spurgeon's College, London, England
366 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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August 27, 2022
This has to be one of the most advanced studies I have read about the ascetic practices of the Egyptian desert fathers (4th-5th c.) which focus is to investigate the quite elusive concept of διάκρισις (discernment). How discernment was understood and used, and what it meant for the first Christian monks in the Egyptian desert.
Discernment is frequently mentioned in the primary sources of early Christian monasticism, the so-called Apophthegmata Patrum (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection) – and is described as the highest of virtues: a "power" or "skill", a God given gift to the advanced monk to discern between good and evil, to show “rightly judgment”, to make right choices, and to give sound spiritual advice.
It is not an easy read, not only because author Anthony D. Rich has taken his PhD thesis into book form using the ancient Greek words/terms (also Hebrew, Latin and some Coptic) throughout the text having you to look up the words for a definition. The intended audience is clearly not the lay reader, and the reason, as I can understand, is not to impose an English equivalent that limit the meaning of the words. I had to force myself to recognize some Greek letters and terms, and I have to say ancient Greek is really cool (I have to thank Rich for that).
Rich is tracing and investigating how the concept of discernment has developed from the Old and New Testament where the biblical charism “discernment of spirits” is one part of the broader scope of it, how Plotinus' Neo-Platonism (Intellect’s union with the One) influenced Origen (who placed "discernment" at the center of the mystical search for union with God) and in turn Evagrius Ponticus (the Mind’s work to achieve Knowledge of God/union with God) who saw "discernment" as a spiritual intuitive force, and his disciple John Cassian who described it as a reasoning faculty.
There is a progression here from the biblical emphasis on “spiritual discernment” to the Sayings of the Desert Fathers more down-to-earth application of “practical discernment”. Cassian becomes the bridge, Rich writes in his conclusion, to bridge the gap “between these theological and philosophical considerations and the practical application of διάκρισις (discernment) found in the sayings/apophthegms.”
I found "discernment" quite difficult to wrap my head around and one reason for this is - if I may be so bold to make a vague analogy: I often see "Critical Thinking" advertised as a school subject where I live, Critical thinking taught as a subject in those schools. I don't think you actually can teach Critical thinking as a subject - you can only teach and learn it by applying critical thinking tools to a subject of some kind.
I see discernment as something like this - it developed from experience and practice (also as a Divine gift, Holy Spirit, grace…), it is a thinking tool monks applied to navigate the issues and problems that mattered to them. Rich shows convincingly that discernment was fundamental to the monks' struggle to purge themselves from vices and cultivate virtues to reach union with God.
From experience and practice it became a very effective reasoning tool (a skill, an ability) to be used in every aspect of the monk’s everyday life; to be applied, for instance, in practical matters: how to regulate fasting, how to meet and treat visitors, for giving encouragement and sound advice, for following the golden rule, for thorough self-examination, for weighing words, how not to judge others (as true judgment is reserved for God alone) - to spiritual matters: how to mentally root out evil thoughts/vices and cultivate virtues for spiritual advancement.
As I mentioned earlier, it is not an easy read, without being familiar with the works of the desert theologians Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian (and those respective terminologies), and also be acquainted with the history and theology of the Desert Fathers - it would be a difficult book to undertake.
What I found really great with this research study was Rich’s insightful interpretation of many difficult apophthegms that viewed through the lens of “discernment” brought out clarity and benefitted one’s understanding of these timeless, inspirational, and provocative stories and sayings from the Egyptian desert.
Discernment is frequently mentioned in the primary sources of early Christian monasticism, the so-called Apophthegmata Patrum (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection) – and is described as the highest of virtues: a "power" or "skill", a God given gift to the advanced monk to discern between good and evil, to show “rightly judgment”, to make right choices, and to give sound spiritual advice.
It is not an easy read, not only because author Anthony D. Rich has taken his PhD thesis into book form using the ancient Greek words/terms (also Hebrew, Latin and some Coptic) throughout the text having you to look up the words for a definition. The intended audience is clearly not the lay reader, and the reason, as I can understand, is not to impose an English equivalent that limit the meaning of the words. I had to force myself to recognize some Greek letters and terms, and I have to say ancient Greek is really cool (I have to thank Rich for that).
Rich is tracing and investigating how the concept of discernment has developed from the Old and New Testament where the biblical charism “discernment of spirits” is one part of the broader scope of it, how Plotinus' Neo-Platonism (Intellect’s union with the One) influenced Origen (who placed "discernment" at the center of the mystical search for union with God) and in turn Evagrius Ponticus (the Mind’s work to achieve Knowledge of God/union with God) who saw "discernment" as a spiritual intuitive force, and his disciple John Cassian who described it as a reasoning faculty.
There is a progression here from the biblical emphasis on “spiritual discernment” to the Sayings of the Desert Fathers more down-to-earth application of “practical discernment”. Cassian becomes the bridge, Rich writes in his conclusion, to bridge the gap “between these theological and philosophical considerations and the practical application of διάκρισις (discernment) found in the sayings/apophthegms.”
I found "discernment" quite difficult to wrap my head around and one reason for this is - if I may be so bold to make a vague analogy: I often see "Critical Thinking" advertised as a school subject where I live, Critical thinking taught as a subject in those schools. I don't think you actually can teach Critical thinking as a subject - you can only teach and learn it by applying critical thinking tools to a subject of some kind.
I see discernment as something like this - it developed from experience and practice (also as a Divine gift, Holy Spirit, grace…), it is a thinking tool monks applied to navigate the issues and problems that mattered to them. Rich shows convincingly that discernment was fundamental to the monks' struggle to purge themselves from vices and cultivate virtues to reach union with God.
From experience and practice it became a very effective reasoning tool (a skill, an ability) to be used in every aspect of the monk’s everyday life; to be applied, for instance, in practical matters: how to regulate fasting, how to meet and treat visitors, for giving encouragement and sound advice, for following the golden rule, for thorough self-examination, for weighing words, how not to judge others (as true judgment is reserved for God alone) - to spiritual matters: how to mentally root out evil thoughts/vices and cultivate virtues for spiritual advancement.
As I mentioned earlier, it is not an easy read, without being familiar with the works of the desert theologians Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian (and those respective terminologies), and also be acquainted with the history and theology of the Desert Fathers - it would be a difficult book to undertake.
What I found really great with this research study was Rich’s insightful interpretation of many difficult apophthegms that viewed through the lens of “discernment” brought out clarity and benefitted one’s understanding of these timeless, inspirational, and provocative stories and sayings from the Egyptian desert.
Displaying 1 of 1 review