Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology (Princeton Theological Monograph): 52 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1597524387 ISBN 13: 9781597524384

Publisher: Pickwick Publications, 2006

Synopsis

"'Deification' refers to the transformation of believers into the likeness of God. Of course, Christian monotheism goes against any literal 'god making' of believers. Rather, the NT speaks of a transformation of mind, a metamorphosis of character, a redefinition of selfhood, and an imitation of God. Most of these passages are tantalizingly brief, and none spells out the concept in detail. "Deification was an important idea in the early church, though it took a long time for one term to emerge as the standard label for the process. That term was qe/wsij, theosis, coined by the great fourth-century theologian, Gregory of Nazianzus. Theologians now use theosis to designate all instances where any idea of taking on God's character or being "divinized" (made divine) occurs, even when the term qe/wsij is not used. And of course, different Christian authors understood deification differently." "While some articles in this collection discuss pre-Christian antecedents of theosis, Greek and Jewish, most focus on particular Christian understandings. The article by Gregory Glazov examines OT covenant theology, with an emphasis on divine adoption, and on bearing the fruit of knowledge or attaining the stature of a tree of righteousness in Proverbs, Isaiah, and Sirach. The article by Stephen Finlan on 2 Pet 1:4 ('You may become participants of the divine nature') examines the epistle's apparent borrowings from Middle Platonic spirituality, Stoic ethics, and Jewish apocalyptic expectation. The epistle stresses 'knowledge of Christ,' which means cultivation of godly character and growing up into Christ." --from the Introduction

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

"... a fine collection of essays which reintroduce theosis into the contemporary theological discourse, and compellingly emphasizes its significance for theological and spiritual work ... The text is very well written and is a good introduction to the topic and conversation ... They have given an excellent overview of what is and is not meant be divinization, its use and emergence within the patristic fathers, and the role it plays in current theological reflection."
--Joe McGarry, in Theological Book Review

34;... These twin volumes are a scintillating gift to Christianity's ongoing revelation in the third millennium. Taste and see that the Lord is good! --Alastair McIntosh, The Expository Times, Volume 126 No 2, November 2014

About this edition

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1597524387
• ISBN 13: 9781597524384
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 196
• Editor: Finlan Stephen