Theosis as the unity of life and death

Journal article

Casey, Damien. (2015). Theosis as the unity of life and death. Scrinium. 11(1), pp. 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1163/18177565-00111p07
AuthorsCasey, Damien
Abstract

This paper explores the unity of life and death through the theology of theosis. Drawing on the theologies of Irenaeus and Gregory of Nyssa this paper argues that the doctrine of theosis offers us a holistic theology that is relevant for how we live our lives, restoring a “catholicity” to Latin theology by grounding it within the mystery of the incarnation as a whole. It explores Irenaeus’ understanding of the historical development of humanity as part of the necessary process of growth and maturation in our progress towards God. Gregory of Nyssa then takes Irenaeus’ understanding of theosis further by arguing for a continuity between this life and the next through his endless ‘stretching out’ – epektasis – of a limited being to participation in the infinity of the divine, thereby establishing the unity of ontology and morality.


Keywordstheology of theosis; Irenaeus; Gregory of Nyssa
Year2015
JournalScrinium
Journal citation11 (1), pp. 49-58
PublisherBrill
ISSN1817-7565
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1163/18177565-00111p07
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84988452295
Publisher's version
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online16 Nov 2015
Publication process dates
Deposited21 Jan 2025
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