Gregory Palamas and the Making of Palamism in the Modern Age (Changing Paradigms in Historical and Systematic Theology)

‘Palamism’ is not a neutral term. It was devised in the early twentieth century by a Roman Catholic scholar, Martin Jugie, to indicate a system of thought developed in the fourteenth century by Gregory Palamas and validated by several Orthodox Church councils that Jugie considered erroneous and therefore indicative of the fallibility of Orthodox teaching. In opposition to Jugie, Orthodox scholars, principally John Meyendorff, proposed a different interpretation of Palamism that in many ways was just as ideologically motivated. The first part of this book examines the debates generated by Meyendorff’s classic __Introduction à l’étude de Grégoire Palamas__ and the new directions that have been taken since then by both Western and Orthodox scholars. The second part, in response to a call by Robert Sinkewicz to raise ‘the larger questions’, explores the issues raised by the controversy initiated by Barlaam of Calabria in 1340 with his denunciation of Palamas as a ‘Messalian’ heretic. These issues concern the nature of doctrinal development, the sense in which a human being can participate in God, the meaning of grace, the character of symbols, and the context of divine–human communion. Palamas developed his distinction between the divine essence and the energies precisely in order to defend the reality of such communion as deification. It is argued that he did not reify the distinction but at the same time held that it was more than merely notional. Finally, it is suggested that Palamas has a valuable contribution to make to current debates on the relationship between divine transcendence and divine immanence. Gregory Palamas and the Making of Palamism in the Modern Age 1 Norman Russell 1 Introduction: a sign of contradiction 4 Palamas’ Nachleben in the Greek-Speaking World 6 Palamas in Russia 7 The Twentieth-Century Retrieval of Palamas 8 New Areas of Research 9 Raising the Larger Questions 11 Notes: 14 Part I 21 The Historical Reception of Palamite Theology 21 The Orthodox struggle to assimilate Palamite thinking 22 The Origins of the Palamite Controversy 22 The Palamite Tradition after the Death of Palamas 23 The Palamite Controversy in the Early Modern Age 24 Palamite Theology in the Age of the Enlightenment 26 Palamas in Nineteenth-Century Russia 28 The Imiaslavie Controversy 30 Palamas at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century 33 Notes: 34 Martin Jugie and the invention of Palamism 45 Martin Jugie and the Assumptionist Mission 45 The Saint Sergius Theological Institute: Sergius Bulgakov and Georges Florovsky 48 The First Modern Orthodox Studies of Palamite Thought: Basil Krivoshein and Dumitru Stǎniloae 51 Palamas in Post-War Paris: Vladimir Lossky and Kiprian Kern 55 Jugie’s Legacy 61 Notes: 62 John Meyendorff’s response to Jugie 73 Meyendorff’s Palamite Enterprise 73 The Initial Reception of Meyendorff’s Work 74 Palamas on the Ecumenical Stage: Eric Mascall and Louis Bouyer 76 Reactions to Meyendorff in the Theological Climate of the 1970s 79 Meyendorff’s Response to his Critics 85 Notes: 87 New directions since Meyendorff 94 Broadening the Accessibility of the Texts 94 Deepening our Understanding of the Historical Context 96 Exploring the Thinking of Palamas’ Contemporaries 99 Investigating Palamas’ Philosophical Structures 101 Interpreting Palamas’ Theological Perspective 106 A More Nuanced Palamas 111 Notes: 112 Part II 123 Raising the Larger Questions 123 What does doctrinal development mean? 124 What is the Relation between Philosophy and Theology? 124 How is the Testimony of the Church Fathers to be Used? 129 What is the Relationship between Dogmatic and Mystical Theology? 132 How are Theological Disputes to be Resolved? 135 Conclusion 141 Notes: 142 How is a participatory understanding of the divine mystery to be attained? 150 What is the Nature of Participation? 150 What is the Distinction between Ousia and Energeiai? 153 Can One Speak of a Higher and a Lower Divinity? 158 The Palamite Encounter with Aquinas 162 Conclusion 164 Notes: 165 What is the reality of divine–human communion? 173 What is Grace? 173 How is Grace Appropriated? 175 The Vision of Light 177 Enhypostatic Existence 179 The Nature of Symbols 180 ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ ΘΕΩΣΕΩΣ‎: The Nature of Divine–Human Communion 181 Conclusion 185 Notes: 185 Could Palamas become ‘the inheritance of all Christians’? 192 Obstacles to the Reception of Palamas 192 Contrasting Methodologies 193 Palamas in Recent Debates 194 Two East–West Colloquia 199 Conclusion 203 Notes: 203 Concluding reflections 212 Notes: 218 (p.243) Select Bibliography 223 7 "The fourteenth-century Greek hesychast and controversialist, Gregory Palamas, has been so successfully cast as 'the other' in Western theological discourse that it can be difficult to gain a sympathetic hearing for him. In the first part of this book, Norman Russell traces the historical reception of Palamite thought in Orthodoxy and in the West, and investigates how 'Palamism' was constructed in the early twentieth century by both Western and Eastern theologians (principally Martin Jugie and John Meyendorff) for polemical or apologetic purposes. Russell argues that we need to go behind these ideological constructions in order to gain a true perception of the teaching of Gregory Palamas. In his recent survey of Palamite scholarship, Robert Sinkewicz noted that it is now time to raise the larger questions. The second part of the book attempts to do this, following the contours of Palamas' thinking in three areas: his relationship to tradition, his philosophy, and his theology. Russell shows that Palamite thought, when freed of misunderstanding and misrepresentation, has the potential to enrich our understanding of divine-human communion. This study contributes to the changing paradigm of scholarship on Palamas, nudging it towards the point at which Palamite thought can be used fruitfully by contemporary Western and Eastern theologians without the need to subscribe to what has been regarded as 'Palamism'."-- Publisher, page four of dust jacket "The fourteenth-century Greek hesychast and controversialist, Gregory Palamas, has been so successfully cast as 'the other' in Western theological discourse that it can be difficult to gain a sympathetic hearing for him. In the first part of this book, Norman Russell traces the historical reception of Palamite thought in Orthodoxy and in the West, and investigates how 'Palamism' was constructed in the early twentieth century by both Western and Eastern theologians (principally Martin Jugie and John Meyendorff) for polemical or apologetic purposes. Russell argues that we need to go behind these ideological constructions in order to gain a true perception of the teaching of Gregory Palamas. In his recent survey of Palamite scholarship, Robert Sinkewicz noted that it is now time to raise the larger questions. The second part of the book attempts to do this, following the contours of Palamas' thinking in three areas: his relationship to tradition, his philosophy, and his theology. Russell shows that Palamite thought, when freed of misunderstanding and misrepresentation, has the potential to enrich our understanding of divine-human communion. This study contributes to the changing paradigm of scholarship on Palamas, nudging it towards the point at which Palamite thought can be used fruitfully by contemporary Western and Eastern theologians without the need to subscribe to what has been regarded as 'Palamism" -- University Press Scholarship Online The Fourteenth-century Greek Hesychast And Controversialist, Gregory Palamas, Has Been So Successfully Cast As 'the Other' In Western Theological Discourse That It Can Be Difficult To Gain A Sympathetic Hearing For Him. In The First Part Of This Book, Norman Russell Traces The Historical Reception Of Palamite Thought In Orthodoxy And In The West, And Investigates How 'palamism' Was Constructed In The Early Twentieth Century By Both Western And Eastern Theologians (principally Martin Jugie And John Meyendorff) For Polemical Or Apologetic Purposes. Russell Argues That We Need To Go Behind These Ideological Constructions In Order To Gain A True Perception Of The Teaching Of Gregory Palamas. In His Recent Survey Of Palamite Scholarship, Robert Sinkewicz Noted That It Is Now Time To Raise The Larger Questions. The Second Part Of The Book Attempts To Do This, Following The Contours Of Palamas' Thinking In Three Areas: His Relationship To Tradition, His Philosophy, And His Theology. Russell Shows That Palamite Thought, When Freed Of Misunderstanding And Misrepresentation, Has The Potential To Enrich Our Understanding Of Divine-human Communion. This Study Contributes To The Changing Paradigm Of Scholarship On Palamas, Nudging It Towards The Point At Which Palamite Thought Can Be Used Fruitfully By Contemporary Western And Eastern Theologians Without The Need To Subscribe To What Has Been Regarded As 'palamism'. Norman Russell. Bibliographical AbbreviationsIntroductionPart I THE HISTORICAL RECEPTION OF PALAMITE THEOLOGY1: The Orthodox Struggle to Assimilate Palamite Thinking2: Martin Jugie and the invention of Palamism3: John Meyendorff's Response to Jugie4: New Directions since MeyendorffPart II RAISING THE LARGER QUESTIONS5: What Does Doctrinal Development Mean?6: How is a Participatory Understanding of the Divine Mystery to be Attained?7: What is the Reality of Divine-Human Communion?8: Could Palamas Become 'the Inheritance of all Christians'?Concluding ReflectionsSelect Bibliography The 14th-century Greek hesychast and controversialist, Gregory Palamas, has been so successfully cast as 'the other' in Western theological discourse that it can be difficult to gain a sympathetic hearing for him. In the first part of this book, Norman Russell traces the historical reception of Palamite thought in Orthodoxy and in the West, and investigates how 'Palamism' was constructed in the early 20th century by both Western and Eastern theologians (principally Martin Jugie and John Meyendorff) for polemical or apologetic purposes This study presents a new perspective on an important fourteenth-century Greek theologian, Gregory Palamas.