Transcript Christian Anthropology - University of St. Thomas

Christian Anthropology: Irenaeus
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General theories of human nature: four components.
Christian anthropology: main contours.
The problem of evil.
Fall of Adam in the NT.
St. Irenaeus’ interpretation of human condition.
General theories of human nature
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What kind of world do we live in? Background
believes about the world.
Who are we? Background beliefs about human
nature.
What went wrong? Diagnosis of the problem.
How can we make things right? Prescription how to
solve the problem.
(Adopted from Leslie Stevenson, Seven Theories of Human Nature,
with some modifications)
Christian anthropology
1. The world is created by God and depends upon
God.
2. We are created in the image and likeness of God.
We are not self-made.
3. Problem: sin. Breach in the relationship with God.
Disobedience to the will of God.
4. Solution: God in Christ takes the initiative to
restore this relationship. Humans return to God
through Christ in repentance. Ultimate destiny:
heaven or hell.
Beginnings of humanity according to
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
• ORIGINAL STATE. Child-like, imperfect & frail.
• FIRST TRANSGRESSION. Adam disobeyed God out of
thoughtlessness and curiosity. He was deceived by the
Devil.
• CONSEQUENCES. Mortality, weakness of will,
proneness to sin. Freedom of will essentially intact.
Humans gained in experience of the moral dimension of
existence.
• METHOD OF TRANSMISSION. All human beings were
present in Adam.
The origin of soul: three views
• Creationism
• Traducionism
• Pre-existence
Pelagius
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British theologian & exegete
Taught in Rome in late 4th-early 5th c.
Anthropology of ascetic movement
Ad Demetrias
Seminar