The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition (Oxford Early Christian Studies) Standard Edition

Russell’s work confirms Gross’s thesis that the deification (theosis) metaphor has biblical roots and that in the second and third centuries, it became expressed in Hellenism's language.Also, he included the non-Greek writing of the Syrian Father, St. Ephraim. and Pseudo Macarius of Egypt, whom Gross overlooked.Don't let the publication date of Gross's The Divinization of the Christian According to the Greek Fathers mislead you. 2006 is when it was published in English. The book dates back to 1938.

Dr. Norman Russel's seminal work on the doctrine of deification is a must-read for anyone researching or interested in the topic. Following a clear path throughout history, Dr. Russell traces the origins of the doctrine from pre-Christian societies to the later Byzantine fathers, such as St. Maximus the Confessor. His method strikes me as scholarly, but accessible at the same time. I would also recommend  Partakers of the Divine Nature: The History and Development of Deification in the Christian Traditions  for those interested in this topic.

One of the best studies that no on can ignore.It is a great reference book of a great quality.

As far as I know, this book is the best one stop read on this central Christian doctrine. All of theology, in its relation to humanity, is really a footnote to the reality of deification. But what does that really mean? Are we absorbed into God? Are we just made like him by decree? Or do we participate in the very life of God and yet remain distinct in our nature and personhood? How this was experienced and worked out in the early church is the subject of this most detailed book.Based largely on Jules Gross' work (La Divination du chrétien d'après les Pères grecs), Russell begins by tracing the main points of Gross, adding the criticism that Gross failed to explain, and take into account, the content in which the Greek Fathers wrote and discussed theosis. He notes that although deification talk was common in many pre-Dionysian (6th century) theologians, they were not doctrinally consistent in their usage and meaning. It is finally with St Maximus the Confessor that the theology of deification is worked out systematically.I am leaving tons of content out, but rest assured that if you have an interest in the topic from the Greek perspective, this is the book to get. But it is not a book for beginners. For that, you may find uncreated energy a useful primer.Although Russell's focus is Greek theology, he does offer an appendix of Syrian and Latin Fathers on the topic, along with a brief discussion of modern authors on the subject, such as Rahner, Zizioulas and Mascall.I would strongly recommend the writings of Valdimir Lossky, especially  The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church  and  Orthodox Theology: An Introduction on this subject. For a great East-West discussion, See A. Williams'  The Ground of Union: Deification in Aquinas and Palamas . As well, please see  Deification in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition: A Biblical Perspective , Being With God: Trinity, Apophaticism, And Divine-Human Communion , Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology (Princeton Theological Monograph)  and  Deification in Christ: Orthodox Perspectives on the Nature of the Human Person (Contemporary Greek Theologians, Vol 5) .My other reviews are often on this topic, and you can find some gems there to further your exploration of the implications of the incarnation, death and resurrection of our Lord.

'Deification' may seem a rather esoteric theme, but all it means is the way in which, according to Christian belief, the grace of God transforms human beings. What this book offers is a survey of most of the important Greek Fathers of the first five centuries, concentrating on how they treat this central theme. The result is the best general treatment of the Greek Fathers we have had for almost fifty years. Structure and sequence are clear, strong and cogent; the clarity of exposition is outstanding. Any reader who has some prior knowledge of the field (e.g. from reading Kelly's Early Christian Doctrines) will be able to follow the argument. The book deserves wide readership and a lasting influence.

I initially bought this book as I was curious about the differences between Eastern & Western traditions, particularly with the notion of theosis --the deification of man. This book goes far deeper, and covers pre-Christian practices (like Stoic thoughts, the deifications of Kings, Roman Emperors, that of private citizens who committed symbolic acts --such as Antinous, Hadrian's obsession, who drowned to "save" mankind and other sotirologies).The book was initially Russell's doctoral thesis, which, as far as I can guess from the dates, had to have been completed when he was in late middle age. But he made it very readable, free of the theophilosophical jargon of similar texts. He still has quotes in the original language and it is a true piece of scholarship.

This is the best work in theosis published in recent times. A must-have for any serious scholar or student.

The quality of this research is simply beautiful.