Amazon.com: Partaking in Divine Nature: Deification and Communion (9780567031877): Paul M. Collins: Books

Book Description

ISBN-10: 056703187X | ISBN-13: 978-0567031877 | Publication Date: July 27, 2010

An investigation of how understandings of theosis in the Christian Tradition have related to understandings of divine nature in terms of koinonia.

>

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; }

An investigation of how understandings of theosis in the Christian Tradition have related to understandings of divine nature in terms of koinonia.

>

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Buy $50 in qualifying physical textbooks, get $5 in Amazon MP3 Credit. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'In this clearly written and informative book, Paul Collins dispels two myths that surround the notion of deification: that it is the property of Eastern Orthodox Christians and that it is inherently individualistic. Collins demonstrates definitively that the metaphor of deification has structured the Christian imagination of the entire Christian tradition, 'East' and 'West', and that it is necessarily a communal and relational reality with cultural and political implications. He advances the discussion on deification in a way that will impact how Churches understand and relate to each other and to the world.' — Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA.

(Aristotle Papanikolaou )

'Paul Collins does a wonderful job of presenting a florilegia of authors and traditions towards elucidating a modern appropriation of a theology of theosis. He creatively builds upon a complementarity of approaches, of what it means to become holy and transfigured by divine grace, by drawing upon early church traditions, Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, and their rootedness in the Scriptures, with a view to showing how deification is at once personal, yet ecclesial and cosmic.' — Jaroslav Z. Skira, Regis College, University of Toronto, ON, Canada

(Jaroslav Z. Skira )

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

'Paul Collins, who already in his previous books on Trinitarian theology has made great efforts to bring theological insights from Eastern — Patristic and modern — sources in dialogue with Western theology, is now applying the same method in a new book on the metaphor of deification. Even if during the last decade almost every year a new theological monograph was published with either 'theosis', 'divinization' or 'deification' in the title, Paul Collins's book contains a good deal of new insights which more than justify its publication. This is true for the helpful account on how ancient philosophy understood concepts like 'apotheosis' and 'theurgy' or on how crucial passages from the Hebrew Scriptures have been interpreted in the New Testament. As from his analysis of the biblical and the Patristic tradition the author is convinced that deification is not only an individual experience, but that it has a collective aspect as well. This is also reflected in the subtitle of the book: Deification and Communion. Collins is aware that Orthodox Christianity — of which the major authors are introduced with due attention to their biographical context − tends to consider itself as the only legitimate heir of the doctrine of deification. One of the more innovating aspects of this book, however, is the author's retrieval of (fragments of) a theology of deification in the West in the work of particular scholastic and medieval theologians and of the early modern mystics. As far as the Protestant tradition is concerned, there is more to mention than Harnack's critique of deification. As important elements in the construal of the architecture of deification in the West, Paul Collins also pays attention to the so-called of Lutheran studies, to theologians such as Ritschl and the Cambridge Platonists, the Wesleys and Pentecostalism. The author believes that it still makes sense to develop a systematic theological treatise of deification — meant to be anything but elitist and to appeal to every believer − even in a detraditionalised Western European context. He does so in the final chapter, 'Transformation and Community'. Deification first of all makes an appeal to the religious experience of the believing subject who at the same time is to be aware of the limitations of any human knowledge of God. Deification is, furthermore, also partaking in the communion within the Triune God, which requires in turn an ecclesial community in which the believer gains access to even further aspects of the reality of deification: being nourished by the sacraments and becoming a virtuous community. I hope that this book may reach a wide audience, not only of theology students but also of many other readers who want to find inspiration in their quest for a meaningful life.' - Peter De Mey, Faculty of Theology, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. (Peter De Mey )

'I think that Paul Collins has opened up exciting new directions for us. This is a well-conceived and carefully researched work, which will, in connection with other works on deification, spur further research in this field.'

(Theology )

'In this clearly written and informative book, Paul Collins dispels two myths that surround the notion of deification: that it is the property of Eastern Orthodox Christians and that it is inherently individualistic. Collins demonstrates definitively that the metaphor of deification has structured the Christian imagination of the entire Christian tradition, 'East' and 'West', and that it is necessarily a communal and relational reality with cultural and political implications. He advances the discussion on deification in a way that will impact how Churches understand and relate to each other and to the world.’ – Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA.

(, )

'Paul Collins does a wonderful job of presenting a florilegia of authors and traditions towards elucidating a modern appropriation of a theology of theosis. He creatively builds upon a complementarity of approaches, of what it means to become holy and transfigured by divine grace, by drawing upon early church traditions, Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, and their rootedness in the Scriptures, with a view to showing how deification is at once personal, yet ecclesial and cosmic.’ – Jaroslav Z. Skira, Regis College, University of Toronto, ON, Canada

(, )

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

'Paul Collins, who already in his previous books on Trinitarian theology has made great efforts to bring theological insights from Eastern – Patristic and modern – sources in dialogue with Western theology, is now applying the same method in a new book on the metaphor of deification. Even if during the last decade almost every year a new theological monograph was published with either 'theosis’, 'divinization’ or 'deification’ in the title, Paul Collins’s book contains a good deal of new insights which more than justify its publication. This is true for the helpful account on how ancient philosophy understood concepts like 'apotheosis’ and 'theurgy’ or on how crucial passages from the Hebrew Scriptures have been interpreted in the New Testament. As from his analysis of the biblical and the Patristic tradition the author is convinced that deification is not only an individual experience, but that it has a collective aspect as well. This is also reflected in the subtitle of the book: Deification and Communion. Collins is aware that Orthodox Christianity – of which the major authors are introduced with due attention to their biographical context − tends to consider itself as the only legitimate heir of the doctrine of deification. One of the more innovating aspects of this book, however, is the author’s retrieval of (fragments of) a theology of deification in the West in the work of particular scholastic and medieval theologians and of the early modern mystics. As far as the Protestant tradition is concerned, there is more to mention than Harnack’s critique of deification. As important elements in the construal of the architecture of deification in the West, Paul Collins also pays attention to the so-called of Lutheran studies, to theologians such as Ritschl and the Cambridge Platonists, the Wesleys and Pentecostalism. The author believes that it still makes sense to develop a systematic theological treatise of deification – meant to be anything but elitist and to appeal to every believer − even in a detraditionalised Western European context. He does so in the final chapter, 'Transformation and Community’. Deification first of all makes an appeal to the religious experience of the believing subject who at the same time is to be aware of the limitations of any human knowledge of God. Deification is, furthermore, also partaking in the communion within the Triune God, which requires in turn an ecclesial community in which the believer gains access to even further aspects of the reality of deification: being nourished by the sacraments and becoming a virtuous community. I hope that this book may reach a wide audience, not only of theology students but also of many other readers who want to find inspiration in their quest for a meaningful life.’ - Peter De Mey, Faculty of Theology, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. (, )

... Paul Collins has opened up exciting new directions for us. This is a well-conceived and carefully researched work, which will, in connection with other works on deification, spur further research in this field. (, )