The Narrative Conflict of Traditions in the Late Antique World, Part 1 - Cyril versus Julian

Drawing from philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre, this book explores how Against the Galileans by Roman Emperor Julian 'the Apostate' (d.363) and Against Julian by bishop Cyril of Alexandria (d.444) were an exercise in "narrative conflict" whose aim was to demonstrate the superior explanatory power of their respective traditions' narrative.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Traditions in narrative conflict; 2. Against the Galileans I: harmonizing Hebrew and Hellene; 3. Against the Galileans II: mapping apostasy; 4. Narrative structure of against Julian; 5. Episodes in rival narratives: 'Gifts of the Gods'; 6. Episodes in rival narratives: cosmology; 7. Case studies in rationality; 8. Discerning narrative conflict; Conclusion: narrative conflict and the incommensurability of traditions; Bibliography.

About the author

Brad Boswell is Visiting Assistant Professor at Samford University. He is the recipient of fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks Manuscript and Research Library and the Seeger Center at Princeton University.

Product details

• Authors: Brad Boswell
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 31.10.2025
• EAN: 9781009493949
• ISBN: 978-1-009-49394-9
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Christianity, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, BCE to c 500 CE, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / New Testament / General, New Testaments, c 1 to c 500 CE