Partakers of the Divine Nature

This critical volume focuses on the issue of continuity and discontinuity of the Christian concept of theosis, or deification, in the intellectual history of ideas. It addresses the origin, development, and function of theosis from its antecedents in ancient Greek philosophy to its nuanced use in contemporary theological thought. Often seen as a heresy in the Protestant West, the revival of interest in deification in both lay and scholastic circles heralds a return to foundational understandings of salvation in the Christian church before the divisions of East and West, Catholic and Protestant.

The five sections of this work, written by scholars from the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant traditions, introduce and summarize the nature and function of deification and then lead the reader through four general historical periods of development: Greek and New Testament, Patristic, Medieval and Reformation, and Modern thought. This multi-author work accomplishes what no single author could: it treats the various visions and trajectories of deification that have emerged over the span of a millennium in the various Christian traditions, resulting in a sweeping yet thorough and distinctive contribution to scholarly and informed lay discussion of theosis.

Part I: The Context of Theosis in Christianity* The Problem, Promise, and Process of Theosis--Michael J. Christensen* The Place of Theosis in Orthodox Theology--Andrew Louth

Part II: Theosis in Classical and Late Antiquity* Deification of the Philosopher in Classical Greece*--John R. Lenz** Can We Speak of Theosis in Paul?--Stephen Finlan** Does 2 Peter 1:4 Speak of Deification?--James Starr*

Part III: Theosis in Patristic Thought* ?The Strategic Adaptation of Deification in the Cappadocians*--J. A. McGuckin** Rhetorical Application of Theosis in Greek Patristic Theology*-- Vladimir Kharlamov** Divinization as Perichoretic Embrace in Maximus the Confessor*--Elena Vishnevskaya** Paradise as the Landscape of Salvation in Ephrem the Syrian*--Thomas Buchan*

Part IV: Theosis in Medieval and Reformation Thought* The Copto-Arabic Tradition of Theosis: A Eucharistic Reading of John 3:51-57 in Bulus al-Bushi’s Treatise On the Incarnation--Stephen J. Davis * St. Anselm: Theoria and the Doctrinal Logic of Perfection--Nathan R. Kerr* Martin Luther: “Little Christs for the World”; Faith and Sacraments as Means to Theosis --Jonathan Linman* John Calvin: United to God through Christ --J. Todd Billings * John Wesley: Christian Perfection as Faith Filled with the Energy of love ?--Michael J. Christensen

Part V: Theosis in Modern Thought* Neo-Palantism, Divinizing Grace, and the Breach between East and West --Jeffrey D. Finch* Sergius Bulgakov: Russian Theosis--Boris Jakim* Karl Rahner: Divinization in Roman Catholicism ?--Francis J. Caponi, OSA* Theosis in Recent Research: A Renewal of Interest and a Need for Clarity --Gösta Hallonsten* Resources on Theosis with Select Primary Sources in Translation*-- Jeffery A. Wittung*.

-Publisher.

Publisher Description

This critical volume focuses on the concept of deification in Christian intellectual history. It draws together Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant scholars to introduce and explain the theory of deification as a biblically rooted, central theme in the Christian doctrine of salvation in diverse eras and traditions. The book addresses the origin, development, and function of deification from its precursors in ancient Greek philosophy to its nuanced use in contemporary theological thought. The revival of interest in deification, which has often been seen as heresy in the Protestant West, heralds a return to foundational understandings of salvation in the Christian church before divisions of East and West, Catholic and Protestant. Originally published in hardcover, this book is now available in paperback to a wider readership.