Orthodox Soteriology
I am wanting to study what the Easter Orthodox believe concerning soteriology, what book would be best fit for that study?
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I'm not really sure the Eastern Orthodox think in terms of Western theological concepts such as soteriology. Theirs is a more mystical theology. Their whole goal is not "salvation" as we in the West would think of it, but "deification" or "theosis." But you might find something close to what you're looking for in Elements of Faith: An Introduction to Orthodox Theology, particularly in Chapter 8 (Jesus Christ), section i ("Ransom" and "Redemption").
There's a good chapter on "The Deification of Humanity – Theosis" in Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective by Daniel B. Clendenin. A couple of key excerpts:
Orthodox theology in the East likewise places the questions of human destiny, sin, and salvation at the forefront of its entire theological vision, albeit in ways very different from the Western Christian tradition. The long history of Orthodox theology answers the question of the purpose of life with a definitive, unique, and unified response. It is a response that not only is different from Western conceptions of theological anthropology, but also sounds very strange indeed to our ears.
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It is not too much to say that the divinization of humanity is the central theme, chief aim, basic purpose, or primary religious ideal of Orthodoxy. Theosis is the ultimate goal towards which all people should strive,4 “the blessed telos for which all things were made.”5 In emphasizing this doctrine Orthodox theologians focus on more than what the Theoretikon identifies as the purpose of life; for Orthodoxy, deification is “the very essence of Christianity,” for it involves the “ineffable descent of God to the ultimate limit of our fallen human condition, even unto death—a descent of God which opens to men a path of ascent, the unlimited vistas of the union of created beings with the Divinity.”6 To paraphrase Athanasius, when God descended, assumed humanity, and was “incarnated,” he opened the way for people to ascend to him, assume divinity, and become “in-godded.” In its very definition of the gospel, then, Eastern Christianity presupposes the idea of deification; even when the term is not explicitly mentioned, it is implicitly present “as the content of the salvation proclaimed by the gospel.”7
Clendenin, D. B. (2003). Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective (2nd ed., pp. 119–121). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
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I did a search of orthodox NEAR soteriology with Match all Word forms checked, and it seems there is quite a bit people like to write/discuss about Orthodox thinking on soteriology. I found quite a few references, without knowing specifically what you might be looking for, they all had some interesting points. Just a few to consider:
Deification in Eastern Orthodox Theology
Salvation as Praxis: A Practical Theology of Salvation for a Multi-Faith world
Historical Theology in-depth: Themes and Contexts of Doctrinal Development Since the First Century
Justification: Five Views
Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader
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The best thing we currently have in Logos format (live products) is Andrew Louth's book Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, and specifically the chapters titled "Who is Christ?," "Sin, Death, and Repentance," and "Being Human—Being in the Image of God."
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As Rosie mentioned, Elements of Faith is another good work, but won't be as user-friendly as Louth's (IMO).
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For a quick overview see http://orthodoxwiki.org/Soteriology
The bibliography includes A Pastoral Letter on the Occasion of the Third Christian Millennium (PDF) The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) as well as links to Hopko and Ware.
BTW "deification" or "theosis" is a major thread in the Western mystical tradition as well.
Sorry, Gabe. I'm being naughty suggesting non-Logos sources ...
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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MJ. Smith said:
Sorry, Gabe. I'm being naughty suggesting non-Logos sources ...
That's the way they become Logos resources...if Logos takes the hint.
Btw, this thread convinced me to go ahead and get the OLB. I did not know that about their theosis belief. Interesting.
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Another one is:
Beyond Salvation: Eastern Orthodoxy and Classical Pentecostalism on Becoming like Christ
It has a substantial section on "The Incarnation and Soteriology" in Chapter 2 which is on Orthodox Theologians and Theosis.
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David Paul said:
I did not know that about their theosis belief. Interesting.
The belief is not unique to Orthodoxy. The difference is one of scope of theology. From Wikipedia:
The primacy of theosis in Orthodox theology is directly related to the fact that Orthodox theology (as historically conceived by its principal exponents) is based to a greater extent than Western Catholic Latin theology on the direct spiritual insights of the saints or mystics of the church rather than the apparently more rational-deductive tradition of the West. Eastern Orthodox consider that "no one who does not follow the path of union with God can be a theologian"..
(In short see my byline below)
The beliefs come directly from the early church fathers and are shared across Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Catholicism and some others with a mystical tradition
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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Rosie Perera said:
Another one is:
Beyond Salvation: Eastern Orthodoxy and Classical Pentecostalism on Becoming like Christ
It has a substantial section on "The Incarnation and Soteriology" in Chapter 2 which is on Orthodox Theologians and Theosis.
I haven't read that one, but it looks promising, too.
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David Paul said:MJ. Smith said:
Sorry, Gabe. I'm being naughty suggesting non-Logos sources ...
That's the way they become Logos resources...if Logos takes the hint.
Btw, this thread convinced me to go ahead and get the OLB. I did not know that about their theosis belief. Interesting.
I'm fine recommending non-Logos resources on this topic, of course. I just personally feel that Louth's book does one of the best jobs out there on introducing the faith (and this subject in particular). It's a good one.
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MJ. Smith said:David Paul said:
I did not know that about their theosis belief. Interesting.
The belief is not unique to Orthodoxy. The difference is one of scope of theology. From Wikipedia:
The primacy of theosis in Orthodox theology is directly related to the fact that Orthodox theology (as historically conceived by its principal exponents) is based to a greater extent than Western Catholic Latin theology on the direct spiritual insights of the saints or mystics of the church rather than the apparently more rational-deductive tradition of the West.
The beliefs come directly from the early church fathers and are shared across Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Catholicism and some others with a mystical tradition.
Actually, "rational" arrives at the same conclusion. YHWH & Yeishuu`a both teach it explicitly. It's only cart-before-the-horse induction that prevents the conclusion from being recognized by the "Western church"...well, that and the fact that everything else they "conclude" is inside out and upside down. Thankfully, prophecy wouldn't have it any other way.
ASUS ProArt x570s Creator, AMD R9 5950x, HyperX 64gb 3600 RAM, ASUS Strix RTX 2080 ti
"The Unbelievable Work...believe it or not." Little children...Biblical prophecy is not Christianity's friend.
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Gabe Martini said:
I just personally feel that Louth's book does one of the best jobs out there on introducing the faith (and this subject in particular). It's a good one.
I'll move it up in my priority reading. Back when I was first reading Orthodox theology Orthodox Theology: An Introduction by Vladimir Lossky was nearly our only choice beside Ware and the Philokalia itself.
What do you think of The Experience of God: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Dumitru Staniloae?
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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MJ. Smith said:Gabe Martini said:
I just personally feel that Louth's book does one of the best jobs out there on introducing the faith (and this subject in particular). It's a good one.
I'll move it up in my priority reading. Back when I was first reading Orthodox theology Orthodox Theology: An Introduction by Vladimir Lossky was nearly our only choice beside Ware and the Philokalia itself.
What do you think of The Experience of God: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Dumitru Staniloae?
Lossky is good, as he stands out among the emigre theologians as one of the better efforts at bringing Orthodox theological discourse out of the 'dark ages' of Ottoman occupation. His emphasis on the Greek fathers and 'Greek' theology was a big positive, as so many clergy were being educated either in non-Orthodox schools or even not at all (during Ottoman rule). Even still, his work has a certain color to it, and we've been blessed with more-and-more works in English in recent memory.
Staniloae is very good, as well, and has more of a Greek (than Slavic) take on certain issues, but is also fairly traditional. He can be a bit difficult to read at times, depending on one's background. That series in particular I hope to see in Logos someday.
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A very old thread but with decent references to which I wished to add a note regarding the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland's work on the topic:
[quote]
Mannermaa’s provocative reexamination of the idea of theosis (Greek: theōsis), or divinization, in light of Luther’s commentary on Galatians
Kirsi Stjerna, “Mannermaa, Tuomo,” in Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions, ed. Timothy J. Wengert (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017), 483.
Unfortunately, I don't find Mannermaa in Logos ... but see Braaten, Carl E., and Robert W. Jenson, eds. Union with Christ: The New Finnish Interpretation of Luther. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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