Andrew Hofer, O.P. – författare

Modern theological engagements on deification have undergone two major paradigm shifts. First, the study of deification shifted from the periphery of theological discourse to its center. For Adolf von Harnack, deification was a pagan import that fatally corrupted and distorted the Gospel message of salvation. In response, the positive retrieval of the concept of deification belongs to the early years of the twentieth century. By the 1910s in Russian religious thought and by the 1930s in much Roman Catholic theology, deification had become a magnet concept attracting attention from many different viewpoints. The second important shift relates to how deification is characterized. Recent studies question the exclusively 'Eastern' character of deification and draw attention to the engagements of this theme in Latin patristic and later Western Christian sources. Reassessing the evidence for these two major shifts, The Oxford Handbook of Deification comprehensively explores the points of convergence and difference on the constitutive elements of deification in different traditions, and offers a foundation for ecumenical and interreligious dialogues. The Handbook's first part analyzes the cultural and scriptural roots of deification; the second part explores the most significant historical contributions to the understanding of deification in the early, medieval, and modern periods; the third part develops systematic connections. Readers will discover a surprizing breadth, depth, and diversity of theologies of deification in Christian traditions. Throughout the Handbook, leading scholars in the field of Deification Studies propose vital new insights from a variety of perspectives for this central mystery at the heart of the Christian faith.

Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus is the first full-length book devoted to an overview of the Christology of this fourth-century Father of the Church. Andrew Hofer examines the breadth of Gregory's corpus-orations, letters, and poems (often neglected in doctrinal studies)-to argue that Gregory's writing on Christ can be best understood in tandem with his autobiography.This study begins with an articulation of Gregory's theology of the Word in which words come from the Word who became incarnate. Hofer then offers a close reading of how Gregory writes to or about Christ in the poetry known as 'on himself'. Within a three-part study of 'autobiographical Christology', Hofer explores the philosophical background of Gregory's rhetoric for what he calls the 'mixtures' of Christ and himself. He then elucidates this autobiographical concern in Gregory's famous Ep. 101, a landmark text in the Christological controversies. Thirdly, Hofer considers how Gregory celebrates the mysteries of Christ in the festal orations. Before the book's epilogue, a chapter describes how Gregory wrote of Christ for his pastoral ministry. Throughout the work, Hofer demonstrates the importance in Gregory's writings of the language of blending (such as in the Greek word krasis, rejected by the Council of Chalcedon to describe the Incarnation). This book thus offers a unique perspective on the one known as 'the Theologian' in Chalcedon's acts and in subsequent Christian tradition.

Augustine of Hippo is known for some of the greatest theological masterpieces in Christian history, notably, his Confessions, The Trinity, and The City of God. Over 900 of his sermons, a treasure trove of his insights into God, Scripture, and humanity, have also survived. Given the wide dissemination of many of these texts over the past 1600 years, Augustine is arguably the most influential preacher since the time of the apostles. In recent decades, scholars have paid more attention to his sermons, including those newly discovered, with the result that Augustine's preaching has become increasingly accessible to a broad audience. The Cambridge Companion to Augustine's Sermons furthers this work by offering essays from an international team of experts. It provides a reliable guide for scholars and students of early Christian biblical exegesis, liturgy, doctrine, social practices, and homiletics, as well as for those dedicated to the retrieval of early preaching for the Church today.