Date of Award

6-20-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Theology

First Advisor

Edmondo Lupieri

Abstract

This dissertation is an analysis of the concept of purity in the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies. The argument proceeds in two parts. In the first, I argue that the Homilies’ presentation of purity reflects an ancient Jewish background. Thus, the Homilies, like other ancient Jews, divides its concept of purity in two domains: a domain related to the body (bodily purity) and a domain related to ethics (purity of the heart). I then track the differences between these two kinds of purity, noting particularly how they are defiled and how such defilements are removed. Thus, while bodily defilement comes from occasional bodily sources like menstruation and seminal emission, heart defilement comes from sin and one’s earthly conception. Similarly, while bodily defilement is removed by ritual lustrations that can be performed repeatedly as needed, heart defilement can only be removed once through an extensive process that involves education, ascetic practices, and baptism. If one sins afterward, they can only be purified through God’s punishment. In the second part, I note that, though the Homilies’ conception of purity comes from an ancient Jewish background, it does not advocate for the observance of the entire Jewish Law. Rather, it promotes a limited law observance. This limited law observance is due to the Homilies’ audience, that being composed of Gentiles. Thus, the Homilies, together with the Apostolic Decree and the rabbinic Noahide Laws, participates in a discussion prevalent in ancient Judaism regarding the legal requirements of all humanity, including non-Jews.

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