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4 - Orthodox Foundations

from Part II - An Emerging Story

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2025

Samuel Wells
Affiliation:
King's College London
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Summary

I address three questions. First, how do Eastern theologians configure the way the incarnation is rendered as God’s original intention, and how significant is that insight? The answer is that this is central to their portrayal of God’s purpose. Second, what precisely is God’s purpose in the incarnation? The answer lies in the notion of deification, our being made divine, a concept pivotal to Eastern theology – and yet one that seems in significant respects problematic. Third, are there ways in which Eastern theologians portray God’s purpose that are less problematic, yet equally integral to their notion of God’s original and constant purpose? The answer is, yes there are. I conclude with three key motifs that I find more transferable yet nonetheless wholly authentic to the Orthodox theological imagination: communion, participation and transfiguration.

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Constructing an Incarnational Theology
A Christocentric View of God's Purpose
, pp. 87 - 113
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • Orthodox Foundations
  • Samuel Wells, King's College London
  • Book: Constructing an Incarnational Theology
  • Online publication: 09 January 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009492669.008
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  • Orthodox Foundations
  • Samuel Wells, King's College London
  • Book: Constructing an Incarnational Theology
  • Online publication: 09 January 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009492669.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Orthodox Foundations
  • Samuel Wells, King's College London
  • Book: Constructing an Incarnational Theology
  • Online publication: 09 January 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009492669.008
Available formats
×