Professor Josef Lossl

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Josef Lossl

Professor of Historical Theology and Intellectual History
School of History, Archaeology and Religion

Research interests

Late antique religious and intellectual culture and its legacy

Research projects

Kommentar zu frühchristlichen Apologeten (Tatian, Oration to the Greeks)
Critical debates in global Late Antiquity (race and empire)
Demons and demonologies in ancient Judaism and Christianity
Coping with grief: the western tradition
Origins of political concepts in early Christian thought

Editorial activities

Executive Editor, Vigiliae Christianae: A review of early Christian life and language
Editorial Board, Vigiliae Christianae Supplements
Editorial Board, The Journal of Theological Studies
Editorial Board, Vetus Testamentum Patristicum
Managing Editor, Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture
Associate Editor, Journal of Late Antiquity
Associate Editor, Studia Patristica

Research groups

Religion in Late Antiquity
Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture

Date
Type

2025

Lössl, J. 2025. Julian of Aeclanum as a biblical exegete. In: Dupont, A., Malavasi, G. and Matz, B. eds. The Oxford Handbook of the Pelagian Controversy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 296-314., (10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192855398.013.0019)

2024

Lossl, J. 2024. Book Review: Zacher, Florian, Marius Victorinus als christlicher Philosoph: Die trinitätstheologischen Schriften des Gaius Marius Victorinus und ihre philosophie-, kirchen- und theologiegeschichtlichen Kontexte. Patristische Texte und Studien 80. Berlin und New York: De Gruyter, 2023. VIII+588 pages. ISBN: 978-3-11-099277-9.. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 18(2), pp. 95-102. (10.18573/jlarc.151)
Lossl, J. 2024. Law and the Church Fathers. In: Witte, J. and Domingo, R. eds. The Oxford Handbook of Christianity and Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 31-44., (10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197606759.013.3)
Lossl, J. 2024. Trost (Trostschriften). Reallexikon für Antike und Christentum 32, pp. 1084-1110.

2023

Lossl, J. 2023. Early Christian Involvement in Classcial Education, Literature and Philosophy. In: Longenecker, B. W. and Wilhite, D. E. eds. The Cambridge History of Ancient Christianity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 276-297., (10.1017/9781108620420.016)
Lossl, J. 2023. Review of Thurner, Die Geburt des Christentums als Religion (2021). Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 16, pp. 50-55. (10.18573/jlarc.138)
Lossl, J. 2023. Paulus in der Theologie des 2. Jahrhunderts: Das Beispiel von Tatians Rede an die Griechen. In: Frey, J., Schröter, J. and Wallraff, M. eds. Paulusmemoria und Paulusexegese. Rom und Protestantismus - Schriften des Melanchthon Zentrums in Rom 5 Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 290-314., (10.1628/978-3-16-162240-3)

2022

Patmore, H. and Lossl, J. 2022. Demons in early Judaism and Christianity: characters and characteristics. Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Vol. 113. Leiden: Brill.
Lossl, J. 2022. Epistolarity, commentary, and profession of faith: reading marius victorinus's fictional exchange with candidus in the context of his conversion. In: Cooper, S. and Nemec, V. eds. The Philosophy, Theology, and Rhetoric of Marius Victorinus. Writings from the Greco-Roman World Supplements Vol. 20. Atlanta, GA: SBL Press, pp. 237-266.
Lossl, J. 2022. The demonogony of Tatian's Oratio ad Graecos: Jewish and Greek influences. In: Patmore, H. and Lossl, J. eds. Demons in Early Judaism and Christianity. Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Vol. 113. Leiden: Brill, pp. 155-181., (10.1163/9789004518148_009)

2021

Lossl, J. 2021. Celsus on Christianity - a detractor with a constructive agenda: a response to Loveday Alexander. In: Paget, J. C. and Gathercole, S. eds. Celsus in His World: Philosophy, Polemic, and Religion in the Second Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 288-296., (10.1017/9781108957861)
Lossl, J. 2021. A clash between Paideia and Pneuma? Ecstatic women prophets and theological education in the Second-Century Church. In: Methuen, C., Ryrie, A. and Spicer, A. eds. Inspiration and Institution in Christian History. Studies in Church History Vol. 57. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 32-53., (10.1017/stc.2021.3)
Lossl, J. 2021. Greek and Barbarian paideia in Tatian's Oratio ad Graecos. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica. Vol. CII - Including Papers Presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters, pp. 79-102., (10.2307/j.ctv1q26vjd)
Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. 2021. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica CII. Papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference 5-7 September 2018. Studia Patristica Vol. 102. Peeters
Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. 2021. Studia Patristica CII. Including papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters.
Lossl, J. 2021. Marius Victorinus: some observations on his use of commentarial techniques in his 'theological treatises'. In: Verheyden, J. and Nicklas, T. eds. Early Christian Commentators of the New Testament. Leuven: Peeters
Lossl, J. 2021. Tatian, Theophilus of Antioch, and Irenaeus of Lyons. In: Edwards, M. ed. The Routledge Handbook of Early Christian Philosophy. Abingdon and New Yorl: Routledge, pp. 342-356.

2020

Lossl, J. 2020. The religious innovator Tatian: a precursor of Mani in Syrian Christianity?. In: Van Oort, J. ed. Manichaeism and Early Christianity: Selected Papers from the 2019 Pretoria Congress., Vol. 99. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies Leiden: Brill, pp. 1-23.
Lossl, J. 2020. Die verurteilung des origenes und die spätantike kirche des westens: der fall des Pseudoaugustinischen Traktats De incarnatione et deitate Christi ad Ianuarium. In: Fürst, A. ed. Verurteilung des Origenes: Kaiser Justinian und das Konzil von Konstantinopel 553. Adamantiana Vol. 15. Münster: Aschendorff, pp. 149-167.
Lossl, J. 2020. Christliche rede von Gott im zweiten jahrhundert: Tatians rede an die Griechen. [MP4 Video]. Medienportal Universität Freiburg: Universität Freiburg. Available at: https://videoportal.uni-freiburg.de/video/Christliche-Rede-von-Gott-im-zweiten-Jahrhundert/0b8b44d40eda4adc6cbb292cf980084c
Lossl, J. 2020. Augustine and the common good. In: Domingo, R. and Witte, J. eds. Christianity and Global Law: An Introduction. Law and Christianity Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 31-50.
Lossl, J. 2020. Augustine and Julian of Aeclanum on human dignity. In: Dupont, A., François, W. and Leemans, J. eds. 'Nos sumus tempora'. Studies on Augustine and his Reception Offered to M. Lamberigts. Peeters, Leuven, pp. 171-188.
Lossl, J. 2020. Between Hipparchian Cynicism and Priscillian Montanism: some notes on Tatian, or. 3.6. Vigiliae Christianae 75(1), pp. 84-107. (10.1163/15700720-12341420)

2019

Lossl, J. 2019. Imperial involvement in education and theology: Constantine to Constantius II. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 13, pp. 22-41. (10.18573/jlarc.114)
Lossl, J. 2019. The pre-Christian concept of human dignity in Greek and Roman antiquity. In: Loughlin, J. ed. Human Dignity in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition: Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Orthodox Perspectives. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 37-56.
Lossl, J. 2019. Commentaries. In: Blowers, P. and Martens, P. eds. The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Biblical Interpretation. Oxford Handbooks Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 171-186.

2018

Lossl, J. 2018. Die Motive Reden, Schweigen und Hören als Mittel brieflicher Kommunikation. In: Bauer, T. J. and Möllendorff, P. v. eds. Die Briefe des Ignatios von Antiochia: Motive, Strategien, Kontexte. Millennium-Studien / Millennium Studies Vol. 72. Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter, pp. 69-92.
Lossl, J. 2018. Religion in the Hellenistic and early post-Hellenistic era. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Chichester: Wiley, pp. 33-60.
Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. 2018. A companion to religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World. Chichester: Wiley. (10.1002/9781118968130)
Lossl, J. 2018. Latin Christian Literature I (polemical and theological writings). In: Toom, T. ed. Augustine in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 94-101., (10.1017/9781316488409)

2017

Lossl, J. 2017. Origenis Vita. Beobachtungen zur Biographie des Origenes in den Origeniana Pierre-Daniel Huets. In: Fürst, A. ed. Origenes in Frankreich. Die Origeniana Pierre Daniel Huets. Adamantiana Vol. 10. Münster: Aschendorff, pp. 91-113.

2016

Lössl, J. 2016. Theology as academic discourse in Greco-Roman Late Antiquity. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 10, pp. 38-72. (10.18573/j.2016.10116)
Lossl, J. 2016. Date and location of Tatian's 'Ad Graecos': some old and new thoughts. In: Vincent, M. and Brent, A. eds. Studia Patristica: Vol. LXXIV - Including Papers presented at the Fifth British Patristics Conference, London, 3-5 September 2014. Studia Patristica Vol. 74. Leuven: Peeters, pp. 43-56.

2015

Lossl, J. 2015. Amt als Lehramt: Kirche und Schule im zweiten Jahrhundert. Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie 137(3-4), pp. 366-384.

2014

Lossl, J. 2014. An inextinguishable memory: 'Pagan' past and presence in early Christian writing. In: Harrison, C., Humfress, C. and Sandwell, I. eds. Being Christian in Late Antiquity: A Festschrift for Gillian Clark., Vol. 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 74-89.

2013

Lossl, J. 2013. Augustine on "The True Religion": reflections of Manichaeism in "De vera religione". In: Van Oort, J. ed. Augustine and Manichaean Christianity. Selected Papers from the First South African Conference on Augustine of Hippo, University of Pretoria, 24-26 April 2012. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies Vol. 83. Leiden: Brill, pp. 137-153., (10.1163/9789004255067_009)
Lossl, J. 2013. Intellect and grace in Augustine of Hippo. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 7, pp. 15-25. (10.18573/j.2013.10315)
Lossl, J. 2013. George Rusts Darstellung der Geschichte des ersten Origenismusstreits im "Letter of Resolution". In: Fürst, A. and Hengstermann, C. eds. Die "Cambridge Origenists". Georg Rusts "Letter of Resolution Concerning Origen and the Chief of His Opinions". Adamantiana Vol. 4. Münster: Aschendorff, pp. 59-83.
Lossl, J. 2013. Stephen R. L. Clark, Ancient Mediterranean Philosophy. An Introduction (London: Bloomsbury, 2013; xiv+245 pp. ISBN: 9781441123596. £16.99 (P). / Jörg Trelenberg, Tatianos. Oratio ad Graecos. Rede an die Griechen (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012); x + 308 pp. [book reviews]. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 7, pp. 101-110. (10.18573/j.2013.10320)
Lossl, J. 2013. Profaning and proscribing: Escalating rhetorical violence in fourth century Christian apologetic. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. J. ed. The Purpose of Rhetoric in Late Antiquity. Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum Vol. 72. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 71-87.
Lossl, J. 2013. Continuity and transformation of ancient consolation in Augustine of Hippo. In: Baltussen, H. ed. Greek and Roman Consolations. Eight Studies of a Tradition and its Afterlife. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 153-175.

2012

Lossl, J. 2012. Sprachlich-ästhetische Darstellung und "Anwendung" von Gewalt in Texten frühchristlicher Apologeten - das Beispiel der Rede Tatians an die Griechen. Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 20(2), pp. 196-222. (10.1515/zfr-2012-0008)
Lossl, J. 2012. Julian's "Consolation to Himself on the Departure of the Excellent Salutius": Rhetoric and philosophy in the Fourth Century. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. eds. Emperor and Author. The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. 61-74.
Lossl, J. 2012. Gotteslehre und Christologie in Anne Conway's "Principia Philosophiae": Frühchristlich-Patristische Einflüsse und Merkmale. In: Hengstermann, C. and Weichert, U. eds. Anne Conway's "Principia Philosophiae". Materialismuskritik und Alleinheits-Spekulation im neuzeitlichen England. PONTES. Philosophisch-theologische Brückenschläge Vol. 52. Münster: LIT, pp. 109-122.
Lossl, J. 2012. Augustine's use of Aristotle's categories in 'De Trinitate' in light of the history of the Latin text of the categories before Boethius. In: Bermon, E. and O'Daly, G. J. P. eds. Le De Trinitate de saint Augustin: exégèse, logique et noétique. Actes du colloque international de Bordeaux, 16-19 juin 2010. Paris: Institut D'études Augustiniennes, pp. 107-129.

2011

Lössl, J. and Watt, J. W. eds. 2011. Interpreting the Bible and Aristotle in late antiquity: The Alexandrian commentary tradition between Rome and Bagdhad. Farnham: Ashgate.
Lössl, J. 2011. The Bible and Aristotle in the controversy between Augustine and Julian of Aeclanum. In: Lössl, J. and Watt, J. W. eds. Interpreting the Bible and Aristotle in Late Antiquity: The Alexandrian Commentary Tradition between Rome and Bagdhad. Farnham: Ashgate, pp. 111-120.

2010

Lössl, J. 2010. The early church: History and memory. London: Continuum/ T&T Clark International.
Lössl, J. 2010. Pauline exegesis in Patristic commentaries of Old Testament Prophets: the example of Julian of Aeclanum's Tractatus in Amos. Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture 4, pp. 1-27. (10.18573/j.2010.10301)
Lossl, J. 2010. Zwischen Christologie und Rhetorik. Zum Ausdruck "Kraft des Wortes" in Tatians "Rede an die Griechen". In: Prostmeier, F. R. and Lona, H. E. eds. Logos der Vernunft, Logos des Glaubens. Millennium-Studies Vol. 31. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 129-147.
Lossl, J. 2010. Augustine's Confessions as a Consolation of Philosophy. In: Berg, J. v. d. et al. eds. 'In Search of Truth': Augustine, Manichaeism and Other Gnosticism. Studies for Johannes van Oort at Sixty. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies Vol. 74. Leiden: Brill, pp. 47-73.
Lössl, J. 2010. Intellektualistischer Voluntarismus - Der Willensbegriff Augustins von Hippo. In: Müller, J. and Hofmeister Pich, R. eds. Wille und Handlung in der Philosophie der Kaiserzeit und Spätantike. Beiträge zur Altertumskunde Vol. 287. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 301-330., (10.1515/9783110221329.301)

2009

Cain, A. and Lossl, J. eds. 2009. Jerome of Stridon: His life, writings, and legacy. Farnham: Ashgate.

2002

Lössl, J. 2002. Julian of Aeclanum on pain. Journal of Early Christian Studies 10(2), pp. 203-243. (10.1353/earl.2002.0022)

2001

Lössl, J. 2001. Julian von Aeclanum. Studien zu seinem leben, seinem werk, seiner lehre und ihrer Überlieferung. Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae : Texts and Studies of early Christian Life and Language Vol. 60. Berlin: Brill.

My research is in the field of Greek and Latin Patristics and in Early Christian studies. My interest is in the way early Christian and Patristic texts convey historical, biblical, philological, philosophical, theological and scientific learning. I am also interested in the rhetorical and literary forms and transformations of these texts. I am pursuing, among others, the following themes and projects:

Julian of Aeclanum and the Second Pelagian Controversy

Having already published extensively on Julian of Aeclanum I am continuing to undertake research on various aspects of his life, writings, thought, and reception with the aim of producing a comprehensive study of this fascinating figure of late-antique Latin Christianity. My most recent publication in this area is in The Oxford Handbook on the Pelagian Controversy (2025) where I discuss Julian of Aeclanum as a biblical exegete.

Tatian, Ad Graecos / To the Greeks. Translation with introduction and commentary

The aim of this project in the field of early Christian literary and intellectual culture is to produce a commentary, with introduction and new translation, of a second-century Greek apology in the series Kommentar zu frühchristlichen Apologeten (KfA). As part of the project I was awarded a Leverhulme International Academic Fellowship to visit the Institute of New Testament Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, during the academic year 2019/20, and I was invited back as a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Theology during the academic year 2024/25.

Biblical and Philosophical Exegesis in Late-Antique Latin

This project emerged from a longterm project of comparing Latin and Syriac commentarial literature. It constitutes the Latin part of that project and consists of a number of ongoing projects on biblical and philosophical exegetes and their work including Jerome, Marius Victorinus, Victorinus of Pettau, Augustine, Pelagius and Julian of Aeclanum, and aims at a comprehensive study of late-antique biblical and philosophical exegesis in Latin.

Classical and Early Christian Historiography

This project is closely linked with my contribution (as sub-editor for Antiquity and Late Antiquity) to the Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle-project. I am interested in the origins of historiography and in links between ancient classical, biblical, early Christian and late-antique historiography and between 'histories', 'chronicles' and other forms of historiography (including 'lives', 'letters', 'commentaries' etc.).

Themes in Early Christian and Late-Antique Intellectual Culture

I am also engaged in a number of studies, some already published, some awaiting publication, or being in preparation, which touch upon a variety of issues concerning religion in Late Antiquity, and especially Christianity:

Consolation: The transformation of a genre in Late Antiquity
Narrative, system and ritual in ancient cosmologies and their reception
Demons and demonology in early Christian thought and doctrine
Social ethical themes in early Christian and late-antique thought
Political concepts and their origins in late-antique thought
The role of memory in the formation of Christian identity
Education and intellectual formation in early Christianity
History and prophecy

Groups

I am a member of the following research groups and centres:

Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture
Religion in Late Antiquity

Teaching profile

I am currently on research leave.

Postgraduate students

I am currently supervising the following PhD project:

Ewan Davies, Photius of Constantinople's Teaching on the Trinity

Education and qualifications

PhD Theology (Historical Theology), University of Regensburg (1996)
PhD Habil. History of the Early Church, Patristics and Christian Archaeology, University of Münster (2001)
Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University College London (2003)

Career overview

2010- Professor, Historical Theology, Intellectual History (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2006-2010 Reader, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2006-2006 Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2003-2006 Lecturer, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2002-2003 Humboldt Research Fellow, Classics (School of Greek and Latin), University College London
2000-2002 Junior Research Fellow, Theology (Patristics and Church History), Catholic University Leuven
1996-2000 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Theology (Early Christianity and Patristics), King's College London
1993-1996 PhD Research Student, Theology (Early Christianity), University of Regensburg

Honours and awards

Leverhulme International Academic Fellowship, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau, 2019
Cardiff University, AHSS Research Leave Award, 2013
Visiting Senior Fellowship, Excellenz-Cluster 'Religion und Politik', University of Münster, 2010
Alexander-von-Humboldt Fellowship (Feodor Lynen), University College London, 2002
Visiting Junior Fellowship, Catholic University Leuven, 2000
Postdoctoral Overseas Award, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), King's College London, 1997
OBAG (EON) Prize for outstanding PhD of the year, University of Regensburg, 1996

Professional memberships

Senior Fellowship, Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Fellowship, Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation
UK Representative, Association internationale des études patristiques (AIEP)
Director, International Patristics Conference, Oxford

Academic positions

2010- Professor, Historical Theology, Intellectual History (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2006-2010 Reader, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2006-2006 Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2003-2006 Lecturer, Religious Studies and Theology (Patristics and Late Antiquity), Cardiff University
2002-2003 Humboldt Research Fellow, Classics (School of Greek and Latin), University College London
2000-2002 Junior Research Fellow, Theology (Patristics and Church History), Catholic University Leuven
1996-2000 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Theology (Early Christianity and Patristics), King's College London
1993-1996 PhD Research Student, Theology (Early Christianity), University of Regensburg

Committees and reviewing

Executive Editor, Vigiliae Christianae: A Review of Early Christian Life and Language (De Gruyter - Brill)
Associate Editor, Journal of Late Antiquity (Johns Hopkins University Press)
Managing Editor, Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture (Cardiff University Press)
Editorial Board, Vigiliae Christianae Supplements (De Gruyter - Brill)
Editorial Board, Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity (Routledge)
Editorial Board, Vetus Testamentum Patristicum (De Gruyter - Brill)
Editorial Board, Brepols Library of Christian Sources (Brepols)
Editorial Board, Studia Patristica (Peeters)
Peer reviewer, The Journal of Theological Studies, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Journal of Early Christian Studies, Journal of Ancient Christianity, Augustinian Studies, Augustinianum, Augustiniana (Leuven), Adamantius, Millennium-Studien, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Bloomsbury Academic, Edinburgh University Press, De Gruyter - Brill

Current supervision

Ewan Davies

Contact Details

LosslJ@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 75499
John Percival Building, Room John Percival Building, Room 5.28, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU