Fellow Workers with God: Orthodox Thinking on Theosis

by Norman Russell

Asked about the Orthodox doctrine of salvation, many people will say it has to do with theosis or deification, yet few can explain what theosis actually means. Normal Russell builds on his magisterial study, The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition, to present this complex teaching of the Fathers with uncompromising scholarship and welcome clarity. The book will interest specialists and non-specialists alike.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2009

About the author

Norman Russell is an Orthodox translator and patristic scholar of partial Greek descent. He holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and is an Honorary Research Fellow of St Stephen’s House of the same university.

Reviews

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have developed a keen interest in Othodox (as in Eastern Christian) theology, especially the concept of theosis. I've read a number of books recently, some ancient and others more recent. I find the work of Vladimir Lossky most intriguing. I am, however, still trying to fully understand both the doctrine and the implications for us as Christians. What I was looking for was a basic guide that would help me better understand the doctrine of theosis, as well as the broader theological concerns that envelop the doctrine. In addition, I wanted to know who I should be reading. All of that is discussed in a way that is understandable to someone outside the Orthodox community (though it does require a bit of background in historical theology and philosophy)

The author, Norman Russell, is well known for his work on theosis, Palamism (Gregory Palamas), and translation of Greek texts into English. If interested in this conversation (and you should), this is a good place to start. It's readable and insightful.

[w gall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores the variations in the understanding of Theosis by the Church Fathers and modern Orthodox Christian scholars. Very enlightening.

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction into the underlying theological basis for the doctrine of Theosis!

Union with God is the final stage of theosis, an ascent by action (the overcoming of the passions) and contemplation (the grasping of the spiritual realities). It is the product of turning to God in repentance and prayer, of cooperating with him by a synergistic harmony of wills, of dwelling in ecstasy in the divine glory. It is best attained by the path of hesychasm, which is the focusing of the whole of one's attention inwards through the practice of the Jesus Prayer. It was through calling on the Name of Jesus that the anonymous author of The Way of a Pilgrim was overwhelmed with bliss and discovered the meaning of the words: "the Kingdom of God is within you."

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads very much like a text book. It was very interesting and informative, yet at the end I wasn't positive I'd actually learned anything. The book is better at raising questions than answering them, and gives a very good overview of theosis history in the Orthodox tradition. Lots of things to think about now! I am going to move on to a Roman Catholic author, Daniel Keating, and see how he treats the subject in "Deification and Grace".