Journal of Medieval History Volume 23, Issue 2, June 1997, Pages 103-115
Arians and Jews in the Histories of Gregory of Tours Avril Keely 1 Show more https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4181(97)00001-8
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Abstract By the time Gregory, bishop of Tours, wrote his Histories, the great narrative of the history of Gaul in the sixth century, one of the problems which faced the Church was that of developing a sense of identity among its members. As bishop and historian, Gregory was vigorously engaged in this task of building up the self identity of the Catholic Church. Outside this Church and, therefore, marginalised in religious terms, were the Arians and Jews. However Gregory is not interested in exploring their marginality. Analysis of the passages involving Arians and Jews, reveals that they are depicted as agents of differentiation. By deploying the imagery of the unclean, demonstrating the inferiority of Arian baptism, contrasting the ineffective powers of Arian bishops with the miraculous powers of Catholic bishops, the exclusion of Arians from the true Church is emphasised. Accounts of conversions of Jews reveal the incorporative nature of Catholic baptism, the relationships of spiritual kinship thus established and the leadership of the bishop as vital to the welfare of the Catholic community. By appreciating what they are not, Catholic Christians will achieve a greater sense of self identity.
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AVRIL KEELY was a teacher in primary and secondary schools before embarking on a Ph.D. in the Ancient History Department of Macquarie University. Her main research interest is in the Western Empire of the fourth to the sixth century. She also holds an M.A. in Education and has co-authored articles on education reform. A recently researched work, the History of the National Catholic Education Commission of Australia, will be published in 1997. Her current position is Director of Postgraduate Studies, Sydney College of Divinity.
