Transformed into the Same Image

The doctrine of deification or theosis has been gaining interest among scholars for some time. Yet most publications on the topic have focused on Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions and have subsumed the discussion under the category of soteriology. If "being transformed into the same image" (2 Corinthians 3:18) is truly essential to the Christian life, a fuller understanding of this biblical concept is needed for Christians of all traditions.

In this volume, biblical scholars and theologians offer a constructive account of deification that breaks new ground in key ways. First, several essays focus on the work of major Protestant thinkers and Protestant expressions of the doctrine—including Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, and Evangelical. Second, contributors incorporate deification into arenas that have thus far remained largely unexplored, such as the relationship between justification and deification, applications for theological education, how deification compares with transhumanism, the impact of translation philosophy on the visibility of deification in Scripture, and perspectives on deification in global Christianity.

Contributors include both senior and younger scholars from a variety of backgrounds, including Alister McGrath, Ann Jervis, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Ben C. Blackwell, and Michael Gorman. Transformed into the Same Image invites readers to dive deeper into the doctrine of deification and continue the conversation.



Alister McGrath is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford, Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford, and (from 2015 to 2018) Gresham Professor of Divinity. His previous posts include Professor of Theology and Education at King's College, London, and Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University. Alister gained first class honours from Oxford University in Chemistry (1975) and first class honours in Theology (1978).He holds an Oxford DPhil (1978) for his research in molecular biology, a DD from Oxford University's Faculty of Theology for his work in historical and systematic theology (2001), and a DLitt from Oxford University's Division of Humanities for his research in science and religion (2013). He was elected FRSA in 2005, in recognition of his work as a public intellectual.







Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (Dr.Theol.Habil., University of Helsinki) is professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and docent of ecumenics at the University of Helsinki. He is ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and is also an expert on Pentecostal/charismatic movements. He has served as visiting professor in various schools around the world and has participated in numerous international theological, missiological, and interfaith consultations. His many books include The Trinity: Global Perspectives, An Introduction to the Theology of Religions, and the five-volume series A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World.







Michael M. C. Reardon (PhD, University of Toronto) is academic dean and professor of New Testament and historical theology at Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies.







Paul Copan (PhD, Marquette University) is the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University. His books include The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas, A Little Book for New Philosophers, and Creation Out of Nothing.







James R. Salladin (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is rector of Emmanuel Anglican Church in New York.



Foreword by Michael J. Gorman



Introduction—Paul Copan and Michael M. C. Reardon

Part I: Biblical Foundations



1. Conformity to Divine Messiah in Paul (Ann Jervis)



2. The Church is Christ: The Wirkungsgeschichte of Interpreting Pauline Soteriology as Ecclesial Deification (Michael M. C. Reardon)



3. Deification Seen from Three Biblical Metaphors in Watchman Nee and Witness Lee with a Cognitive-Linguistic Interpretive Approach to Metaphors (Jacob Chengwei Feng)



4. Deification and the Eschatological City: Theological Connections in Early Christian Thought (Nathan Betz)



5. The Influence of Translation Philosophy upon the Visibility of the Doctrine of Deification in Scripture (Chao-Chun Liu)

Part II: Protestant Foundations



6. Deification or Christification? Martin Luther on Theosis (Alister E. McGrath)



7. Deification in the Reformed Tradition from Zwingli to Vermigli (Carl Mosser)



8. Jonathan Edwards, Theosis, and the Purpose of Creation (James Salladin)



9. John and Charles Wesley on Deification (Mark Gorman)



10. C. S. Lewis on Deification (Jahdiel Perez)



11. Towards an Evangelical Doctrine of Deification (Paul Copan)

Part III: New Investigations into the Doctrine of Deification



12. Deification as a Theological Foundation and Goal for Formational Theological Education (Brian Siu-kit Chiu)



13. Sharing in the Life of God: Considering the Relationship between Justification and Deification (Ben C. Blackwell)



14. Justification as Union and Christ's Presence: A Lutheran Perspective (Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen)



15. Deification and World Christianity: Hesychasm and "Calling upon the Name of the Lord" (Shu-chen Hsu Hsiung)



16. Transhumanism as Active Effort of Technology versus Deification as Active Reception of Grace (Kimbell Kornu)



Contributors