And after exchanging greetings it's time to get back to Earl and his journey:
Earl,
From the book recommendations, 40 volumes in all, I've chosen the following that will help you out in two ways: understanding the concept of deification and understanding the concept of church.
This following book is by the 7th century theologian named Saint Maximus the Confessor. He will teach you about deification - the partaking of the divine nature spoken of by Saint Peter the Apostle in his second epistle.
http://www.svspress.com/on-the-cosmic-m ... us-christ/ On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ.
The last half of the twentieth century saw the establishment of the reputation of St Maximus the Confessor as the greatest of all Byzantine theologians, with a wholeness of vision that speaks directly to many of our concerns today. Until very recently, however, little of his work has been available in English translation, save for some collections of brief reflections arranged in centuries and a few brief treatises, too easily classified as "spirituality." This volume provides translations from St Maximus, two main collections of theological reflections, his Ambigua (or Difficulties) and his Questions to Thalassius, plus one of his Christological opuscula, hitherto unavailable in English.
Code: Select all
The translations are accompanied by immensely helpful notes, and prefaced by a long, brilliant introduction to the theology of the Confessor. This is the ideal volume from which to learn at first hand the depth and insight of St Maximus' cosmic vision and grasp of the complexities of human nature, as he patiently explores the nature and consequences of the renewal of all things in Christ. Robert Wilken and Paul Blowers have put us all deeply in their debt.
The following theologian is named Saint Cyprian of Carthage from the 3rd century, which happened to be before the first ecumenical council called by the first Christian Emperor: Constantine. He will teach you about church - what it is and who is in it. You've heard the Feeneyites, I'm sure, mouthing off about Outside The Catholic Church No Salvation; well, this maxim belongs to Saint Cyprian's body of work.
This is a 2 volume set of work:
http://www.svspress.com/on-the-church-s ... -carthage/ On the Church - Select Treatises: St. Cyprian of Carthage
http://www.svspress.com/on-the-church-s ... -carthage/ On the Church - Select Letters: St. Cyprian of Carthage
St Cyprian, third-century bishop of Carthage, developed a theory of church unity almost universally accepted up to the European Reformation: to be a member of the Body of Christ you needed to be in communion with a priest who was in communion with a bishop who in turn was in communion with all other bishops in the world. But, how could you discern who was a legitimate bishop? And, on what kind of issue would it be right to break off communion? Additionally, could self-authenticating ministries, like those of martyrs and confessors who had suffered for the faith, supersede this order? Finally, did the Church need, and in what form, a universal bishop who could guarantee the integrity of the network of bishops?
St Cyprian wrestled with these questions in his letters and treatises, selected and translated in these companion volumes. Each volume contains an introduction to the two principal controversies that spurred St Cyprian to write his defense on church unity: first, the readmission to the Eucharist of those Christians who had lapsed or fallen in the persecution under Emperor Decius; and second, the sacramental validity of baptism in heretical and schismatic communities.
They are questions that continue to arise in various forms in the contemporary Church, and thus, these companion volumes are of ultimate value to the state of current Christendom.
These two theologians of the patristic age should get your feet wet, and should you like the water, then plunge right in for a swim.