<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This essay explores some of the dogmatic challenges involved in developing a distinctively evangelical account of the doctrine of <italic>theosis</italic>, that is, humanity’s participation in the life of God. After offering some preliminary clarifications regarding the terminology of <italic>theosis</italic>, the paper sketches in broad strokes how an account of <italic>theosis</italic> might take shape within the structures of evangelical theology. David Bebbington’s famous evangelical quadrilateral— biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism—serves as the basic framework (Bebbington 1989: 1-19). It will be argued that evangelical theology can accommodate a version of <italic>theosis</italic> within this structure, but that evangelicals’ understanding of these categories may require some ‘flexing’ in order to make room for a more Christocentric and participatory conceptualization of redemption, one that culminates in the beatific vision of the redeemed when ‘God will be all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28). The final section of the paper points to a pair of important figures who may serve as resources for an evangelical retrieval of <italic>theosis</italic>.</p></abstract>

This essay explores some of the dogmatic challenges involved in developing a distinctively evangelical account of the doctrine of theosis, that is, humanity’s participation in the life of God. After offering some preliminary clarifications regarding the terminology of theosis, the paper sketches in broad strokes how an account of theosis might take shape within the structures of evangelical theology. David Bebbington’s famous evangelical quadrilateral— biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism—serves as the basic framework (Bebbington 1989: 1-19). It will be argued that evangelical theology can accommodate a version of theosis within this structure, but that evangelicals’ understanding of these categories may require some ‘flexing’ in order to make room for a more Christocentric and participatory conceptualization of redemption, one that culminates in the beatific vision of the redeemed when ‘God will be all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28). The final section of the paper points to a pair of important figures who may serve as resources for an evangelical retrieval of theosis.

Baptizing <italic>Theosis</italic>: Sketching an Evangelical Account

Perichoresis

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Baptizing : Sketching an Evangelical Account

{"article-title":{"italic":"Theosis","content":["Baptizing",": Sketching an Evangelical Account"]}}

This essay explores some of the dogmatic challenges involved in developing a distinctively evangelical account of the doctrine of theosis, that is, humanity’s...

Baptizing Theosis: Sketching an Evangelical Account

Published Online: Jun 02, 2020

Page range: 99 - 115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2020-0006

Keywords
theosis, evangelical, Biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, activism

© 2020 R. Lucas Stamps, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Baptizing Theosis: Sketching an Evangelical Account

Published Online: Jun 02, 2020

Page range: 99 - 115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2020-0006

Keywordstheosis, evangelical, Biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, activism

© 2020 R. Lucas Stamps, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
theosis, evangelical, Biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, activism