Partakers of the Divine Nature: The History and Development of Deification in the Christian Traditions

by Michael J. Christensen; Jeffery A. Wittung

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2008

Overview

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.

“A groundbreaking, panoramic collection of studies on the theme of deification/theosis. This finely conceived and well-crafted volume will help significantly to deepen the understanding and appreciation of salvation as deification for all who read it.” --David C. Ford, St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Key Features

• Includes critical essays by leading scholars on the concept of deification in the New Testament
• Provides theological, intellectual, social and cultural insights and resources for understanding the idea and development of deification in particular historical and contemporary settings
• Finds the idea and history of theosis to be a compelling vision of human wholeness and spiritual formation

Contents

The Context of Theosis in Christianity

• The Promise, Process, and Problem of Theosis - Michael J. Christensen
• The Place of Theosis in Orthodox Theology - Andrew Louth

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

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

Theosis in Medieval and Reformation Thought

• The Copto-Arabic Tradition of Theosis: A Eucharistic Reading of John 3:51-57 in Būlus al-Būshī'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

Theosis in Modern Thought

• Neo-Palamism, 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 of Clarity - Gösta Hallonsten
• Resouces on Theosis with Select Primary Sources in Translation - Jeffrey A. Wittung

Praise for Partakers of the Divine Nature

The contributors to this rich and varied volume have reached across the divides of time, place, and culture to explore the deepest hopes and wildest aspirations of Christians in their relationship with God. Historians, students, ecumenists, and the burgeoning company of enthusiasts for spirituality will all enjoy the abundant and provocative feast that is served up here.

--Kathleen McVey, J. Ross Stevenson Professor of Early and Eastern Church History, Princeton Theological Seminary

This groundbreaking, panoramic collection of studies on the theme of deification/theosis is most welcome. These essays clearly demonstrate that the grand and sublime calling of every human being to participate in the very life of God has always been central in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. They also convincingly reveal that this high calling was intuited by the ancient Greek philosophers, and has been present in varying forms in the thought of major figures in Western Christianity from Anselm to Karl Rahner. I believe this finely conceived and well-crafted volume will help significantly to deepen the understanding and appreciation of salvation as deification for all who read it.

--David C. Ford, associate professor of church history, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

This is a timely book that offers a fuller scope and history of the theme of deification than is possible for a single author. This [can] be a basic textbook for general, wide-ranging courses on 'Deification in the Christian traditions.'

--John Behr, professor of patristics, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Partakers of the Divine Nature The History and Development of Deification in the Christian Traditions
• Authors: Michael J. Christensen, Jeffery A. Wittung
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 326
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:PRTKRSDVNTRDTNS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2021-04-29T17:29:13Z