Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor
This topic is huge, it´s very hard to write about its entire scope, let alone define or describe in detail. It´s not a simple issue where we can just refer to this "body of orthodox knowledge" to get our answers. Some kind of theological Alexa, to which we can just refer our questions to and get back the correct, balanced, scriptural answers and interpretations. Where do you start? Plus it is not a simple, straighforward resource, it is full of intrinsic controversies too. For example Athanasius of Alexandria, 4th century: - christian theologian
- church father
- chief defender of Trinitarianism
- against Arianism
- deacon and assistant to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria
- during the First Council of Nicaea
- writings well regarded by Church fathers in West and East
- labeled as the "Father of Orthodoxy"
- first person to identify the 27 books New Testament books used today
But also, he taught deification, - "He was God, and then became man, and that to deify us."
- "The Word was made flesh in order that we might be made gods."
- "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."
sound familiar???? |
As to your overall point, I agree, which is in part why the church issued dogmatic decisions at councils to make the church’s teaching clear at key points, like major stars on a constellation, crystalizing the patristic consensus.
Athanasius isn’t the first to identify the NT canon, formal or material. There are earlier lists, more or less complete. Athanasius as a bishop issues a rule or canon, as bishops did, in his festal letter for what books his diocese would and could use. That isn’t a universal formal canon.
As to deification, for my part, the NT has that language and so some notion of deification is expressed there. Lee’s distortion and mishandling of it doesn’t change that, nor should we permit ourselves to reject biblical teaching because of abuses of it. Consequently, I find no problem with Athanasius’ teaching of theosis, but perhaps you find it problematic in some way. I’d be interested to know what objections you have to his teaching.