The „battle” of the evil one against the „sons of the covenant” in the demonstrations by Aphrahat, the Persian sage
Andrzej Uciecha
Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach , PolandAbstract
In the Demonstrations by Aphrahat, the term „battle” is reserved for the struggles waged by the „sons of the covenant” against Satan (cf. 1Jn 2, 16). Te Evil One attacks them in various manners in order to destroy the peace in man and the Church, yet, as in The Shepherd of Hermas, his „battle” has been definitively lost. In Aphrahat’s teaching, the question related to the dwelling place of the evil spirit-angel remains to be studied. According to the typical Judeo-Christian concept, he dwells in the lower spheres of heaven, which implies certain soteriological consequences: Christs encounters and defeats evil spirits during His ascension, not during His descension into Sheol, where His aim is to liberate the souls.
Keywords:
battle against Satan, sons of the covenant, Syrian monasticismReferences
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