[OPEN] Athanasius Reloaded

[NewToLife]

On the subject of theosis I think clarification can help. Theosis does not make us God, what it does is to make us 'partakers of the divine nature' as I think St Peter puts it in one of his epistles ( although my memory may be off as to the NT author concerned ). That is we rise through theosis to share fully ( or at least more fully ) in God's life rather than becoming something that could independently be called 'god'. This would be an Orthodox understanding anyway.

 

[Sojourner<><]

On the subject of theosis I think clarification can help. Theosis does not make us God, what it does is to make us 'partakers of the divine nature' as I think St Peter puts it in one of his epistles ( although my memory may be off as to the NT author concerned ). That is we rise through theosis to share fully ( or at least more fully ) in God's life rather than becoming something that could independently be called 'god'. This would be an Orthodox understanding anyway.

Not sure if that was in response to my question.

If it was, I'm not referring to theosis but rather to Christ as the Eternal Logos through which all things were created. Specifically, I'm curious about how the church fathers describe the subject. Do they see Him as the grand unifying principle or truth behind all things? If so, it would provide us with a cohesive paradigm with which to see all aspects of reality, etc...

 

[NewToLife]

Not sure if that was in response to my question.

It wasnt meant as such, it was more a comment on posts from earlier in the thread that i hadnt had a chance to read before today.

If it was, I'm not referring to theosis but rather to Christ as the Eternal Logos through which all things were created. Specifically, I'm curious about how the church fathers describe the subject. Do they see Him as the grand unifying principle or truth behind all things? If so, it would provide us with a cohesive paradigm with which to see all aspects of reality, etc...

From what I have read of the fathers it is clear that Christ is the one through whom creation was originally made and is also the one through whom creation will be redeemed, it really makes little sense from a Christian perspective to try and understand creation in any other light than that of Christ. I think the fathers testify powerfully to this reality, at least those I have read anyway.

 

[Willtor]

Yes, Athanasius spends a bit of this text discussing Christ as the eternal Word of God. He spends more of his preceding work, "Against the Gentiles," which is more of an apologetic. Also, for easily referenced quotes, read his, "Deposition of Arius." That's pretty explicit.

 

[Macrina]

Let's try again with this reading group, shall we?

How about a little Justin Martyr?

 

[Willtor]

That sounds good. I've read both of the apologies, but I haven't read much of anything else.

 

[Macrina]

That sounds good. I've read both of the apologies, but I haven't read much of anything else.

I'm open to suggestions as to what in particular to read.

 

[Willtor]

"The Discourse to the Greeks"

 

[a_ntv]

I'll go for On the Resurrection, Fragments (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.viii.html)

I think it can be more suitable in the modern time

 

[Sojourner<><]

"The Discourse to the Greeks"

That sounds pretty interesting. Who wrote it?

 

[Willtor]

That sounds pretty interesting. Who wrote it?

We're discussing possible books by Justin Martyr. Mac has a link to a site with his works. You can look through it and see what interests you.

 

[a_ntv]

A next book to be read, I suggest a very intresting, short and nice book

St Gregory of Nissa
Live of St Macrina
​

here the text: http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_macrina_1_life.htm

 

[Macrina]

A next book to be read, I suggest a very intresting, short and nice book

St Gregory of Nissa
Live of St Macrina
​

here the text: http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_macrina_1_life.htm

You know I'd go for that one!


Perhaps we should collect nominations and I'll post a poll. I'll let people vote for multiple options of what to read, and we'll do whatever gets the most votes... eh?

So far I've seen:

Discourse to the Greeks (Justin Martyr)
On the Resurrection (Justin Martyr)
Life of Macrina (Gregory of Nyssa)

Did I miss any? Keep 'em coming if you got 'em. We might as well open it up and see what people's interests are.

 

[a_ntv]

You know I'd go for that one!


Perhaps we should collect nominations and I'll post a poll. I'll let people vote for multiple options of what to read, and we'll do whatever gets the most votes... eh?

So far I've seen:

Discourse to the Greeks (Justin Martyr)
On the Resurrection (Justin Martyr)
Life of Macrina (Gregory of Nyssa)

Did I miss any? Keep 'em coming if you got 'em. We might as well open it up and see what people's interests are.

I vote "the live of St Macrina"
It is anyway a very interesting text about monks, liturgy and habit of the early christians

 

[Macrina]

Please see the poll.