Includes bibliographical references (p. [345]-380) and indexes.
Contents:
The Greek vocabulary of deification. The metaphor of deification ; The need for the study ; Scope and method ; Overview -- Deification in the Graeco-Roman world. The origins of deification ; The ruler-cult ; Jewish and Christian attitudes to the ruler-cult ; The democratization of the ruler's apotheosis ; The mystery cults ; Philosophical religion ; The Egyptian Hermetists ; Interaction with Christianity -- The Jewish paradigm : from Ezekiel to the yored merkavah. Ancient Israel ; The impact of Hellenism ; Palestinian Judaism ; The Rabbinic tradition ; Influence on Christianity -- The earliest Christian model : participatory union with Christ. Pauline Christianity ; Jewish Christianity ; Johannine Christianity ; Ignatius of Antioch ; Valentinian Christianity ; Justin Martyr ; Two anonymous contemporaries ; Tatian ; Theophilus of Antioch ; Irenaeus of Lyons ; Hippolytus of Rome ; The early Christian approach to deification -- The Alexandrian tradition I : Christian schools and study circles. Alexandrian Christianity ; The school of Basilides ; The school of Pantaenus ; Clement of Alexandria ; Origen ; Didymus the Blind ; The Alexandrian concept of deification -- The Alexandrian tradition II : the imposition of episcopal control. The eclipse of the independent teacher ; Athanasius ; Apollinarius of Laodicea ; Cyril of Alexandria ; The legacy of Alexandria -- The Cappadocian approach : divine transcendence and the soul's ascent. Basil of Caesarea ; Gregory of Nazianzus ; Gregory of Nyssa ; The Cappadocian achievement -- The monastic synthesis : the achievement of Maximus the Confessor. Evagrius Ponticus ; The Macarian writings ; Diadochus of Photice ; Dionysius the Areopagite ; Maximus the Confessor -- Epilogue. Leontius of Jerusalem ; John Damascene ; Symeon the New Theologian ; Gregory Palamas ; The dissemination of Hesychast spirituality ; Modern approaches to deification -- Deification in the Syriac and Latin traditions -- The Greek vocabulary of deification.
Summary:
"Deification in the Greek patristic tradition was the fulfillment of the destiny for which humanity was created--not merely salvation from sin but entry into the fullness of the divine life of the Trinity. This book, the first on the subject for over sixty years, traces the history of deification from its birth as a second-century metaphor with biblical roots to its maturity as a doctrine central to the spiritual life of the Byzantine Church. Drawing attention to the richness and diversity of the patristic approaches from Irenaeus to Maximus the Confessor, Norman Russell offers a full discussion of the background and context of the doctrine, at the same time highlighting its distinctively Christian character"--Provided by publisher.
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