22 October, 2026
We are deeply honoured to welcome The Very Rev’d Professor Gabrielle Thomas, Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, and Professor in the Practice of Early Christian, Anglican, and Theological Studies, to present her new book, The Problem of the Devil in Cappadocian Thought, in conversation with Professor Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe, University of Cambridge, and Professor Jacob Wright, Emory University, and Oxford Interfaith Forum.
About the book
Professor 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, Professor 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. Professor 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).
The book Order Information
Enter the code THOMAS26 at the checkout for 20% discount at this link.
About the author
The Very Reverend Professor Gabrielle Thomas serves as the 15th Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, making history as the first woman to hold this position since the institution’s founding in 1854. She also serves concurrently as Associate Dean of Yale Divinity School and Professor in the Practice of Early Christian, Anglican, and Theological Studies. Before coming to Yale, Professor Thomas was Associate Professor of Early Christianity and Anglican Studies at Emory University and Theologian-in-Community at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta. She also served on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Theological Reflection Group for nearly a decade and was the first woman appointed to the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission.
Professor Thomas focuses on historical theology, specifically fourth-century Christian thought and Patristics. She bridges the gap between historical discovery and contemporary practice, advocating for women’s leadership in the academy and the Church. She published three monographs (see below), and over twenty-five scholarly articles and chapters. She is currently working on a book aimed at non-specialists, entitled I Renounce Satan and All His Works (Baker Academic, 2029). Her public writing is published online in journals and blogs such as Wabash, Seen&Unseen, The Living Church, Earth & Altar, andSCM Press Blog.
About the Guest Contributor
Professor Sophie Lunn-Rockliffe is an Associate Professor in Patristics , and Fellow in Theology and Religious Studies at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. Her interests revolve around the history of late antiquity, with particular interests in early Christianity and the history of ideas, both in the Greco-Roman Mediterranean and further afield, especially in the Syriac-speaking world. As well as teaching papers in the Divinity Faculty, she also supervises History and Classics papers.
About the Moderator
Professor Jacob L. Wright holds the Hebrew Bible Professorship at the Candler School of Theology, and associate faculty membership at the Centre for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University. He is a Senior Fellow of the Oxford Interfaith Forum.
Date: 22 October, 2026
Time: 18:00-19:00 BST | 13:00-14:00 EST | 10:00-11:00 PST
Venue: online
Or Scan the QR Code
