Book prize for Michael C. Magree, S.J.
Associate Professor of Theology Michael C. Magree, S.J., has been awarded the Best First Book Prize by the North American Patristics Society for his publication (Oxford University Press). Twenty books were nominated for the award.
The Interpretation of Kenosis from Origen to Cyril of Alexandria brings the insights of Greek Christianity in the years 200-450 to the understanding of kenosis鈥攁 Greek term to describe Christ鈥檚 self-emptying through his humbly making human nature his own鈥攖o illustrate that new dimensions of the topic open up when it is examined in the historical era of early Christianity.
The award was presented at NAPS鈥檚 annual meeting, which was held in May in Chicago. At the conference, Fr. Magree chaired a session on 鈥淎gency and Spiritual Maturity in Early Christian Ascetical Writers,鈥� where he presented a paper on 鈥淭he Rhetoric of Agency: Cyril of Alexandria and Self-Denial鈥檚 Role in Spiritual Progress.鈥�
鈥淚 am grateful and deeply honored that, among many other excellent candidates, this committee of my fellow scholars regarded my book worthy of this award,鈥� said Fr. Magree, who specializes in early Christian interpretation of the Bible.
The jury statement from the award committee reads, in part: 鈥淭o promise a full account of the reception and interpretation of a single New Testament verse in the early Church would be suggestive of a narrow, technical discussion. But in his first monograph,聽The Interpretation of Kenosis from Origen to Cyril of Alexandria聽(Oxford, 2024), Michael C.聽Magree, S.J., unlocks the small portal of Philippians 2:7 and leads us into an expansive, vibrant world."
It concludes with: 鈥淢agree聽addresses multiple disciplines: New Testament studies, systematic theology, patristic theology, and the history of interpretation. He makes original contributions in each field, and creates missing bridges across them. Writing in a style both compelling and mature,聽Magree聽persuades those of us who are outside these specialties to care about the problem of聽kenosis, and to think about the solutions.鈥�
Founded in 1970, the North American Patristics Society is a scholarly organization dedicated to the study of the history, literature, and theology of ancient Christianity. Fr. Magree is the second Jesuit priest from Boston College to earn Best First Book Prize honors from NAPS. In 2018, Clough School of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor of Historical Theology Brian Dunkle, S.J., was recognized for his book, Enchantment and Creed in the Hymns of Ambrose of Milan.