Beyond the Realistic-Ethical Distinction in Deification: Reconsidering Norman Russell’s Assessment of Gregory of Nyssa

The notion of deification (θεοποίησις) or divinization (θέωσις), a fundamental theme in Eastern Orthodox theology, has long fascinated theologians from different traditions. In spite of the general interest in this theme, scholarship has fallen short on several accounts. One issue is that the intrin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lee, Chungman (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2022
In: International journal of systematic theology
Year: 2022, Volume: 24, Issue: 2, Pages: 140-155
IxTheo Classification:KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
NBK Soteriology
NCA Ethics
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Summary:The notion of deification (θεοποίησις) or divinization (θέωσις), a fundamental theme in Eastern Orthodox theology, has long fascinated theologians from different traditions. In spite of the general interest in this theme, scholarship has fallen short on several accounts. One issue is that the intrinsic relationship between the ‘realistic’ and ‘ethical’ senses of deification has defied clear explanation. This failure is exemplified by Norman Russell’s The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition (2004), where the obscured relationship also yields an inaccurate assessment of Gregory’s theology. Revisiting Gregory’s notion of deification, this article proposes a new account for the intrinsic relationship between the ‘realistic’ and ‘ethical’ senses of deification, and suggests a revision of Russell’s reading of Gregory.
ISSN:1468-2400
Contains:Enthalten in: International journal of systematic theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/ijst.12555