Showing papers by "Robert M. Grant published in 1988"

Greek apologists of the second century

Abstract: Apologetic literature emerges from minority groups seeking to come to terms with the larger cultures within which they live. Its authors are not entirely at home in either thei r own groups or the larger society, and therefore their position is one with which many Christians today can sympathize. Professor Grant's new book looks at the first Christian apologists of all and the background to their message. After opening chapters discussing early Christian apologetic and its historical setting in the Roman empire, he looks in detail at Justin, Apollinaris of Hierapolis, Melito of Sardis, Athenagoras of Athens, Tatian, Theophilus of Antioch and other related figures including Celsus, Marcus Aurelius and the Gallican martyrs. He ends by tracing apologetic through the thi rd century and into the Middle Ages. Apologetic can be attractive to readers today, but the main theme of the book is that while there is a certain timeless character to the Christian apologists of the second century, they are deeply involved in the political and social struggles of their time and cannot be understood apart from the precise circumstances in which they are writing.

Brain and intracranial cavity volumes: in vivo determination by MRI.

Abstract: Brain volume is altered by pathological processes such as swelling or atrophy yet until now this is a parameter which could only be determined at post mortem. This paper describes a non-invasive technique using MRI which permits the in vivo determination of brain volume (BV), intracranial cavity volume (ICV), ventricular, cortical sulcal and total intracranial CSF volumes. The technique was applied to 40 normal volunteers (20 males, 20 females) to investigate the variation of these parameters with age and sex after normalisation with respect to ICV. There was found to be a significant decrease in normalised brain volume between the ages of 20 and 60 years in males by 1.6% per decade. In females the decrease was less (0.5%) but was not statistically significant. This technique will make it possible, for the first time, to investigate prospectively the correlation between mental function and brain volume in illness and ageing.

Is cranial CSF volume under hormonal influence? An MR study.

Abstract: We used magnetic resonance to investigate the hypothesis that premenstrual neurological symptoms are due to cerebral oedema and brain swelling. Total cranial and lateral ventricular CSF volumes were measured midcycle and premenstrually in 20 women with a normal menstrual cycle, and similar measurements were made 2 weeks apart in 10 postmenopausal women and 10 men. Total cranial CSF volume increased premenstrually in 19 women. The mean premenstrual increase was by 11.5 ml. There was not a significant difference between those women who were taking an oral contraceptive and those who were not. The CSF volume did not change significantly on repeat measurement in men and postmenopausal women. The CSF changes observed reflect a reduction in brain volume and do not support cerebral swelling as the cause of premenstrual neurological symptoms.

Intracranial CSF volumes: natural variations and physiological changes measured by MRI.

Abstract: Cranial CSF volumes, for the first time including CSF in the subarachnoid space, can be measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The MRI sequence causes signal from the grey matter and white matter to cancel producing a contrast of 200: 1 between a unit of CSF and a unit of brain. We have assessed the variations between normal individuals and investigated some of the physiological factors that might influence cranial CSF volumes.

Temporal physicochemical changes during in vitro relaxation time measurements: the cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract: Documented relaxation time measurements of body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) vary considerably. This may be largely due to lack of an appropriate method of maintaining the in vivo physiological and biochemical characteristics of the fluid. We have developed an in vitro technique that maintains the in vivo characteristics of body fluid samples for a sufficiently long period to establish the true relaxation times. To illustrate this we studied changes in CSF pH, pO2, and pCO2, first as it equilibrated with air and then under anaerobic conditions as found in vivo. Relaxation times of CSF were then studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under the particular aerobic conditions used the pH and pO2 of CSF increased quickly and pCO2 fell within the first 30 min. By 3-4 h equilibration with air was complete. The T1 and T2 relaxation times of CSF decreased by 14 and 16%, respectively, as a result of these physicochemical changes. It is important that such changes be considered when relaxation measurements of any body fluid are performed in vitro and efforts to maintain the in vivo milieu should not be neglected.

The Proof from Prophecy: A Study in Justin Martyr's Proof-Text Tradition: Text- Type, Provenance, Theological Profile. By Oskar Skarsaune. Supplements to Novum Testamentum 56. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1987. xv + 505 pp. $83.75 (series subscriber $77.25).

Abstract: underlying Greek and Latin texts. The renderings from Coptic are sometimes not very clear, but scholars often disagree on what these texts mean, and Layton seems to provide a reliable overall picture. The headings Layton uses to divide up his materials are very helpful, and it is interesting that he refers to the Jerusalem Bible (p. xli) because the format of The Gnostic Scriptures is rather similar—fortunately for the readers of both volumes. The title of the book is rather questionable (note Layton's phrase, \"unorthodox scripture manuscripts\" [p. xxvi]). It is true that \"when Christianity was born it had little or no scripture that was uniquely its own\" (p. xvii), but it did possess non-unique scriptures quite unlike the Gnostic documents assembled here, and it gradually accumulated scriptures of \"its own.\" Can one really call \"gnostic scripture\" \"a kind of Christian scripture\" (p. xxi) without depriving the terms of their historical meaning? Did Valentinus and his school compose \"edifying scriptural works\" or, instead, exegesis of \"the proto-orthodox canon\" (p. xxiii)? It could be said that Valentinians were special because of their close proximity to more orthodox Christians. One then must ask if one should refrain from capitalizing the names lord, savior, and god (pp. 182-183) when the Valentinians take them from New Testament books. On the other hand, is it advantageous to refer to nearly every Christian personage as \"Saint?\" (Note that in the late sixteenth century Clement was removed from the Roman martyrology.) Or is this Layton's way of finally differentiating Christians from Gnostics?

The Apostolic Fathers' First Thousand Years

Abstract: The writings of the so-called Apostolic Fathers (a term used by the Monophysite Severus of Antioch in the sixth century) present us not only with a fascinating theological literature but also with some difficult problems in regard to its nature. Thomas Elborowe translated Ignatius, Polycarp, and Barnabas and entitled his published work (London, 1668) “a prospect of the primitive Christianity, as it was left by Christ to his apostles, by the apostles to their disciples Saint Polycarp and Holy Ignatius, both contemporaries with and disciples to the Holy Evangelist and Apostle Saint John.” The neatness of this part of the prospect was somewhat marred by the inclusion of Barnabas. “His following epistle indeed,” Elborowe wrote, “may not prove so very acceptable to some, in regard of his strange explications of scripture, which are not after the modern and more refined mode. But it is to be noted that, when he wrote, Christianity was but in the cradle, and scarce advanced into her morning dress.” Nearly three hundred years later Mgr. G. Jouassard, writing in the Melanges de science religieuse (1957), was facing problems not unlike those stated or implied by Elborowe. What is the value of the Apostolic Fathers? What kind of authority do they have? Are they any more valuable than such a document as the Epistle of the Apostles? They are hard to classify as literature and they come from a long period of time. Both “apostolic” and “fathers” are words which ascribe more importance to them than they really deserve.