Gorman on Kenosis and Theosis (Quote of the Day)

I am currently reading Michael Gorman’s new book, Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology (Eerdmans, 2009). Here’s my advice: BUY IT. READ IT. I’ve only finished the first chapter, but it is already apparent that this is a very important book for: soteriology, christology, theology, and ethics (probably a lot more; I’ve only just begun as I’ve said). Here’s a quote to whet your appetite:

The emphasis [of theosis] is on transformation by union, or participation, more than imitation, and is more appropriate than the language of imitatio, as we will see in later chapters. From either perspective, however, the key point for now is that human beings, including Adam, are most like God when they act kenotically. In Christ’s preexistent and incarnate kenosis we see truly what God is truly like, and we simultaneously see truly what Adam/humanity truly should have been, truly was not, and now truly can be in Christ. Kenosis is theosis. To be like Christ crucified is to be both most godly and most human. Christification is divinization, and divinization is humanization (page 37, emphasis original).

Gorman on Objections to Theosis

Head on over to Cross Talk and do check out Michael Gorman’s recent post on objections to theosis, becoming like God, a process that begins now and works toward completion throughout the eschaton.

What I’ve been up to…

I’ve obviously been aloof lately. I’ve been busy…

1. applying to eight…EIGHT PhD programs

2. revising my thesis

3. making revisions on an article for publication

4. beginning a new semester (my last one in my masters program)

5. trying to survive points 1 through 4

Stay tuned if you like… Eventually, I’ll be posting on prepping for the GRE, getting into PhD programs, and publishing as a student…eventually.