Huian, Georgiana (26 January 2024). Gregory of Nazianzus – The shaping of Theosis over the Stamp of Neoplatonism (Unpublished). In: International Conference „The Divinisation in Gregory of Nazianzus“. Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Erfurt. 25.-26. Januar 2024.
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Much has been already argued about the Biblical, Platonic, or even Stoic roots hidden in the conception of theosis of Gregory of Nazianzus. According to Norman Russell, the assimilation to the Divine in Gregory occurs through imitation of Christ rather than “participation” in the Divine or “incorporation” in Christ. This contribution seeks to clarify the meaning of notions such as “imitation”, “becoming like Christ”, “becoming god(s)” in Gregory, in comparison with the ascent and the assimilation to the divine in Neoplatonic thought. Against the background of Plotinus (Enn. I, 6, 9; VI, 7, 15; VI, 7, 34; VI, 9, 7), Porphyry (Vita Plotini, De abstinentia, Ad Marcellam), and Iamblichus (De anima 39, 43, 49-50; De mysteriis V, 22-23), we can study how separation from bodily passions, ascent in knowledge of God, striving for purification and moral perfection, as well as participation in the Divine constitute philosophical motifs on which Gregory constructs his conception (Or. 1, 38, 39). Is he finally going beyond these topoi, to define a conceptual space for theosis different from the Neoplatonic henosis? I argue that in his notions of “intermingling” or “uniting” with God, Gregory adds a strong incarnational and pneumatological emphasis (Or. 29, 30, 31, Carm. 1.1.3.)
Item Type: |
Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
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Division/Institute: |
01 Faculty of Theology > Institute of Old Catholic Theology > Systematic Theology, Ecumenical Theology, Practical Theology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Huian, Georgiana |
Subjects: |
200 Religion > 230 Christianity & Christian theology 200 Religion > 270 History of Christianity |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Georgiana Huian |
Date Deposited: |
08 Apr 2024 10:51 |
Last Modified: |
08 Apr 2024 10:51 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Deification; Gregory of Nazianzus; Plotinus; Porphyry; Iamblichus; Ne0-Platonism; Chruch Fathers; Late Ancient Christianity; Assimilation to God; Christology; Pneumatology; Theological Anthropology |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/195267 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/195267 |
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