Den gudomliggjorda skapelsen: en konstruktiv studie om gudomliggörelse och antropologi inom nutida luthersk teologi

Sammanfattning: The aim of this MA thesis is firstly to describe and investigate the theologico-anthropological aspect of the doctrine of deification within contemporary Lutheran theology. Secondly, the aim of the thesis is to propose a theological anthropology that considers the human need and ability to grow, mature and deepen in life and in relationship to oneself, one’s neighbor and God. I argue that this perspective has been neglected and ignored within the Lutheran tradition since the starting-point for theological anthropology has been a forensic soteriology which describes the human being as totally depraved by sin and without any ability to thrive in a spiritual or moral sense. The main question of the thesis is: In what way could the doctrine of deification contribute to a theological anthropology that considers the human ability to grow, mature and deepen in relation to oneself, one’s neighbor and God? In my presentation, I focus upon three contemporary Lutheran theologians: Tuomo Mannermaa, Robert W. Jenson and Ted Peters, who in different ways have incorporated a doctrine of deification into their systematic theologies. Taking my cue in these authors, I identify four premises that define what place the doctrine of deification could have within contemporary Lutheran theology: 1) The doctrine of deification should mainly be understood as a theological meta-narrative. 2) The Trinity is the frame for the doctrine of deification. 3) The doctrine of deification has to take its starting-point in a eschatological promise. 4) The doctrine of deification relativizes the Lutheran understanding of the faithful as simul iustus et peccator. My conclusion in this thesis is that the doctrine of deification broadens the Lutheran theological horizon without compromising its traditional teachings in any substantial matter. More precisely, it contributes to theological anthropology by offering a way to account for the human ability to grow, mature and deepen.