Marius Victorinus, Opus ad Candidum. An Analysis of its Rhetorical Structure
Zacher F (2017)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2017
Journal
Edited Volumes: Studia Patristica 95 (2017)
Book Volume: 95
Pages Range: 127-135
Conference Proceedings Title: Studia Patristica 93
Event location: Oxford
Journal Issue: 21
Abstract
The writings of Victorinus have been regarded as obscure since the times of Jerome. Hadot tried to solve this problem by the methods of Quellenforschung. He identified purely philosophical, alien elements in the works of Victorinus and considered them to be translations of lost works of Porphyry. This article shows that the Opus ad Candidum has to be analysed by rhetorical categories. There are no incoherencies, rather everything is a necessary and useful step in Victorinus’ argumentation. Therefore the works of Victorinus should not be used as a source to reconstruct lost works of Porphyry. Furthermore, the structure of the work shows that Candidus is a persona employed as a rhetorical device by Victorinus. The broad argumentation of Victorinus indicates that his work is not simply antiheretical, but an attempt to give Nicene theology a stable philosophical and theological foundation.
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How to cite
APA:
Zacher, F. (2017). Marius Victorinus, Opus ad Candidum. An Analysis of its Rhetorical Structure. Studia Patristica, 95(21), 127-135.
MLA:
Zacher, Florian. "Marius Victorinus, Opus ad Candidum. An Analysis of its Rhetorical Structure." Studia Patristica 95.21 (2017): 127-135.
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