Herman Bavinck’s Rejection of Theosis: An Explanation

Recent attention has turned to Herman Bavinck’s discussion of theosis, with some arguing that he supported such a theology. I will challenge this, arguing instead that he misunderstood the nature of deification and rejected it on false grounds. Bavinck’s objections to theosis will be addressed to sh...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Habets, Myk 1971- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2024
In: Journal of reformed theology
Year: 2024, Volume: 18, Issue: 1/3, Pages: 50-75
IxTheo Classification:KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
KDD Protestant Church
NBC Doctrine of God
NBE Anthropology
VA Philosophy
Further subjects:B Deification
B Grace
B Thomas F. Torrance
B Theosis
B Herman Bavinck
B German Idealism
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Description
Summary:Recent attention has turned to Herman Bavinck’s discussion of theosis, with some arguing that he supported such a theology. I will challenge this, arguing instead that he misunderstood the nature of deification and rejected it on false grounds. Bavinck’s objections to theosis will be addressed to show how a Reformed doctrine of theosis can avoid the sorts of dualistic mysticism Bavinck rightly opposed. Bavinck’s criticisms of theosis are brought into dialogue with Thomas F. Torrance’s endorsement of theosis to see why Bavinck could not endorse a doctrine of theosis even if the mysticism he opposed were removed.
ISSN:1569-7312
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of reformed theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15697312-bja10055