Durham E-Theses Christosis: Pauline Soteriology in Light of Deication in Irenaeus and Cyril of Alexandria BLACKWELL, BENJAMIN,CAREY How to cite: BLACKWELL, BENJAMIN,CAREY (2010) Christosis: Pauline Soteriology in Light of Deication in Irenaeus and Cyril of Alexandria, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/219/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 CHRISTOSIS: PAULINE SOTERIOLOGY IN LIGHT OF DEIFICATION IN IRENAEUS AND CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA BY BEN C. BLACKWELL SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION 2010 CHRISTOSIS: PAULINE SOTERIOLOGY IN LIGHT OF DEIFICATION IN IRENAEUS AND CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA BEN C. BLACKWELL ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is to explore whether and to what extent theosis helpfully captures Paul‖s presentation of the anthropological dimension of soteriology. Drawing methodologically from Gadamer, Jauss, and Bakhtin, we attempt to hold a conversation between Paul and two of his later interpreters—Irenaeus and Cyril of Alexandria—in order to see what light the development of deification in these later writers shines on the Pauline texts themselves. In Part 1 of the thesis, we analyse how Irenaeus and Cyril develop their notions of deification and how they use Pauline texts in support of their conclusions. Drawing from Ps 82 both writers ascribe to believers the appellation of ―gods‖, and they associate this primarily with Pauline texts that speak of the experience of immortality, sanctification, and being sons of God. As believers experience this deifying move the image and likeness of God is restored through a participatory relationship with God mediated by Christ and the Spirit. In Part 2 we then analyse the anthropological dimension of Paul‖s soteriology in Rom 8 and 2 Cor 3-5, with excursus on Gal 3-4, 1 Cor 15, and Phil 2-3. In the context of believers‖ restored divine-human relationship through Christ and the Spirit, Paul speaks of believers being conformed to the narrative of Christ‖s death and life, which culminates in an experience of divine and heavenly glory and immortality. In Part 3 we offer a comparison of patristic views of deification and Paul‖s soteriology. While differences are clear, we conclude that Paul‖s soteriology overlaps significantly with that of these two later interpreters, such that deification is an apt description of the anthropological dimension of his soteriology. At the same time, christosis is probably a better term in today‖s context to capture his distinct emphasis on embodying Christ‖s death and life. i STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any format, including electronic, without the author‖s prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged appropriately. ii DECLARATION This work has been submitted to the University of Durham in accordance with the regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It is my own work, and none of it has been previously submitted to the University of Durham or in any other university for a degree. iii CONTENTS Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... i Statement of Copyright .......................................................................................................... ii Declaration ............................................................................................................................. iii Contents .................................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... vii Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 2. Review of Literature ....................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Histories of Deification ............................................................................................ 3 2.2 Morna Hooker ........................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Stephen Finlan .......................................................................................................... 6 2.4 David Litwa ................................................................................................................ 7 2.5 Michael Gorman ....................................................................................................... 8 3. Route of Study: History of Religions or History of Interpretation........................ 10 3.1 Two Paths ................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Hermeneutical Justification and Methodology ................................................. 12 3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 21 4. Selection of Patristic Theologians ............................................................................. 21 4.1 Criteria For Selection ............................................................................................. 22 4.2 Selection of Irenaeus as the Early Writer ........................................................... 23 4.3 Selection of Cyril of Alexandria as the Later Writer ......................................... 24 4.4 Formulations of Deification .................................................................................. 26 5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 28 Part 1: Patristic Views of Deification .............................................................................. 29 Chapter 2: Deification In Irenaeus ..................................................................................... 30 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 30 2. God and Humanity ........................................................................................................ 32 2.1 The Creator and His Two Hands........................................................................... 32 2.2 Humanity: The Created ......................................................................................... 33 2.3 The Work of Christ and the Spirit ........................................................................ 35 3. Humanity and God ........................................................................................................ 37 3.1 Believers as ―Gods‖ and Psalm 82 .......................................................................... 37 3.2 Relational Models ................................................................................................... 48 3.3 Anthropological Effects ......................................................................................... 52 4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 55 4.1 Irenaeus‖ Soteriology ............................................................................................. 55 4.2 Deification in Irenaeus .......................................................................................... 56 4.3 Irenaeus and Paul ................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 3: Deification in Cyril of Alexandria ................................................................... 61 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 61 2. The Trinity, Humanity, and Soteriology ................................................................... 63 2.1 The Trinity .............................................................................................................. 63 2.2 Humanity ................................................................................................................. 64 iv 2.3 Cyril‖s Soteriology .................................................................................................. 67 3. Deification.....................................................................................................................