Hellenism and the formation of Coptic identity : 332BCE - 200CE : a Coptic trajectory through a Hellenistic context

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conflicting perceptions of the Copts exist for a variety of reasons. This dissertationseeks to examine some of the traces of their own process of interpreting andmediating the past. Hellenism facilitated this process, as did the Egyptian pharaoniccultural background. Both these influences left their mark on Coptic Christianity asevidenced for example in the Coptic language, and in the iconography of Madonnaand child. In addition, examples of the presaging of Christianity in Egyptianiconography are presented. Recent discoveries, for example the Nag HammadiCodices, have been taken into account in researching Coptic identity. Clement ofAlexandria was another major force in the formation of Coptic identity. The vastlydiversified area of Gnosticism is a complicating factor in understanding CopticChristianity. Due to Clement's work in reconciling Greek philosophy withChristianity some authors associated him with Gnosticism, in spite of his making aclear but nuanced distinction between Gnosticism in general and Christianity. Severalresearchers have noted a similarity between the prologue of the Gospel of John andthe type of Gnosticism that Clement was said to be associated with. This dissertationattempts to demonstrate that ancient Egyptian cosmology facilitated the Copticunderstanding of the Incarnation of the Logos, but was misunderstood at the Councilof Chalcedon.The Coptic trajectory through a Hellenistic context was found to be like that of aboomerang, in that the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt represents, in the words ofthe current Coptic Patriarch, a return to the apostolic father-type of leading of thechurch. He stresses that they aim at renewal by expressing ancient doctrine,theology and traditions in a contemporary form that is understandable to their youth.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University