Inspired by Cicero

Ambrosian contribution to the formation of a clerical ethos in the De officiis

Abstract

The article focuses on the formation of priestly ethics in late antiquity, more specifically at the end of the 4th century. In his work De officiis, in which he draws heavily on the homonymous work of Cicero from more than three centuries ago, the bishop of Milan, Ambrosius, creates an interesting fusion between the ethical ideals of Roman pagan society and Christian doctrine based on biblical revelation. The virtues and values in which he wants to educate his clerics, the new emerging spiritual elite, turn out to be very similar to those found in Cicero: whether it is practical advice on speaking (rhetoric) or a general theoretical perception of morality. Despite the many similarities with Cicero, Ambrose serves up some more typically Christian ethical nuances: celibacy occupies a high place, otium becomes prayer and meditation, and verecundia receives an even stronger internal emphasis.

Keywords

early christian ethics;clerics;virtues;values;social elites;pagan ethics;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2022
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL TEOF - Theological Faculty
UDC:	17:808.5“652“
COBISS:	135690755
ISSN:	0006-5722
Views:	22
Downloads:	5
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Navdihnjeno po Ciceronu
Secondary abstract:	Članek se posveča oblikovanju duhovniške etike v pozni antiki, natančneje ob koncu 4. stoletja. Milanski škof Ambrozij je v svojem delu De officiis, v katerem se močno naslanja na istoimensko Ciceronovo delo izpred dobrih treh stoletij, ustvaril zanimiv spoj med etičnimi ideali rimske poganske družbe in krščanskim naukom, utemeljenim na bibličnem razodetju. Vrline in vrednote, v katerih želi svoje duhovnike, nastajajočo novo duhovno elito, vzgajati, se kažejo kot zelo podobne tistim, ki jih najdemo pri Ciceronu – pa najsi gre za praktične nasvete glede nastopanja (retorika) ali pa za splošno dojemanje morale. Kljub številnim podobnostim s Ciceronom pa Ambrozij postreže z nekaj bolj tipično krščanskimi odtenki etike: celibat zasede pomembno mesto, otium postane molitev in meditacija, verecundia pa dobi še močnejši notranji poudarek.
Secondary keywords:	zgodnjekrščanska etika;duhovniki;vrline;vrednote;družbene elite;poganska etika;Cicero;Marcus Tullius;106-43 pr.n.št.;Ambrosius Mediolanensis;svetnik;333-397;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 877-889
Volume:	ǂLetn. ǂ82
Issue:	ǂ[št.] ǂ4
Chronology:	2022
DOI:	10.34291/BV2022/04/Bogataj
ID:	25318190