In The Problem of the Devil in Cappadocian Thought, Gabrielle Thomas questions the popular assumption that the devil served as the primary explanation for evil, sin, and suffering as early Christians grappled with all that is wrong in the world. Interrogating the status of the devil in the teachings of the Cappadocians – Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, and Macrina the Younger – she identifies their points of agreement, that the devil is a fallen angel, and disagreement, notably how Christ defeated him, his continued existence, and his ultimate end. In her investigation, Thomas engages fourth-century Christian thought in conversation with ancient philosophy, ancient history, classics, and biblical studies. She demonstrates how the Cappadocians negotiated myriad philosophical, theological, and spiritual problems with the devil. Thomas argues that the devil is not simply a strategy for explaining the problem of evil. Rather, the devil himself is the problem.

‘Gabrielle Thomas’s most recent monograph exhibits not only scholarly boldness but also the historical and theological acumen to justify her choice of topic. Thomas’s study of the Cappadocians challenges the Enlightenment narrative that the figure of the Devil was created to excuse people of moral responsibility and to vindicate God against culpability for evil. Her careful historical eye notices the place of the Devil in the fourth century theology, while her theological commitment to engaging the tradition challenges modern theologians to consider how the devil is not only the enemy against whom Christians must engage in spiritual battle but that he is every image of evil whose corruption of humanity’s natural goodness is the heart of human sin.’

J. Warren Smith - Professor of Historical Theology, Duke University

‘In her latest book, and with great sophistication, Thomas reveals and then fills a lacuna in early Christian scholarship by exploring the many functions that reflection on the Devil’s name and work play in the Cappadocian theologians, offering us significant new insights into the Cappadocian cosmologies, Christologies, and conceptions of Christian life.’

Lewis Ayres - McDonald Agape Distinguished Chair in Early Christian Theology, Pontifical University of St Thomas (Angelicum) & Professor of Catholic and Historical Theology, Durham University

‘Professor Thomas’ book is brilliant, bold, and timely. It persuasively demonstrates that we need to take seriously Cappadocian treatments of the elusive figure of the Devil, and reveals the sheer complexity of his emplotment in their theologies. It will fundamentally change our ways of thinking about patristic exegesis and theology.’

Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe - Associate Professor of Patristics, University of Cambridge

‘Bringing the Devil out of the shadows, Dr Thomas expertly shows how, despite his near total absence in modern theology, for the Cappadocians he lurks in almost every field of theology, from creation to salvation, not as a solution to the problem, but the problem itself. This book adds greater depth to our understanding of classical theology, the perennial issues that it addressed, and why it is that Christians pray for deliverance from the Evil One.’

John Behr - DD h.c. FBA, Regius Chair in Humanity, University of Aberdeen

‘This important book of Gabrielle Thomas combines careful analysis of the textual sources with thorough insights into the theology of the Cappadocians. Superb subject and an innovative approach to the study of the Cappadocians.’

Volker Henning Drecoll - Professor of Church History, University of Tübingen

‘The Cappadocians observed the devil’s uncanny ability to conceal himself, preying on human ignorance. Thomas’s incisive, meticulous, and deftly argued volume does more than address a scholarly oversight. It resists a spiritual oblivion against which these theologians emphatically and repeatedly warned. This eye-opening book shows definitively why the theme of the devil should not be ignored, in Cappadocian thought or beyond.’

Han-luen Kantzer Komline - Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Professor of Theology and Church History, Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI)