Norman Russell was formerly Vice-Provost of the London Oratory and is now an independent scholar.

Norman Russell presents his subject with the assurance of a master... He displays not just understanding of the material, but also a clear awareness of the field of patristic studies... this is a masterpiece of what historical discussion of Christian doctrine should be: historically acute and theologically perceptive.

• 1. Introduction ; 2. Deification in the Graeco-Roman World ; 3. The Jewish Paradigm: From Ezekiel to the yored merkavah ; 4. The Earliest Christian Model: Participatory Union with Christ ; 5. The Alexandrian Tradition I: Christian Schools and Study-Circles ; 6. The Alexandrian Tradition II: The Imposition of Episcopal Control ; 7. The Cappadocian Approach: Divine Transcendence and the Ascent of the Soul ; 8. The Monastic Synthesis: The Achievement of Maximus the Confessor ; 9. Epilogue

Norman Russell was formerly Vice-Provost of the London Oratory and is now an independent scholar.

Norman Russell presents his subject with the assurance of a master... He displays not just understanding of the material, but also a clear awareness of the field of patristic studies... this is a masterpiece of what historical discussion of Christian doctrine should be: historically acute and theologically perceptive.

• 1. Introduction ; 2. Deification in the Graeco-Roman World ; 3. The Jewish Paradigm: From Ezekiel to the yored merkavah ; 4. The Earliest Christian Model: Participatory Union with Christ ; 5. The Alexandrian Tradition I: Christian Schools and Study-Circles ; 6. The Alexandrian Tradition II: The Imposition of Episcopal Control ; 7. The Cappadocian Approach: Divine Transcendence and the Ascent of the Soul ; 8. The Monastic Synthesis: The Achievement of Maximus the Confessor ; 9. Epilogue