Briefing Document: Theological Anthropology in Orthodox Christian Theology

Overview: This document outlines key aspects of Theological Anthropology within the Eastern
Orthodox Christian tradition. It emphasizes the centrality of the human person as created in the
image and likeness of God, explores the impact of sin, and examines the restoration of humanity
through Christ. The document is structured around the course outline of a Theological
Anthropology class.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. The Nature of Orthodox Theology and Mysticism:

 Mystical Union: Orthodox theology aims towards mystical union with God, not just
intellectual understanding. Theology is considered an aspect of mystical experience, and
these two concepts are inseparable. "The eastern tradition has never made a sharp
distinction between mysticism and theology; between personal experience of the divine
mysteries and the dogma affirmed by the Church…"
 Apophatic Approach: The approach to understanding God is apophatic, meaning that
knowledge comes through the revelation of God's "Energeia" (divine energies) rather
than through defining God's essence.
 Sources of Theology: General revelation (nature, human nature, history) and special
revelation (Theophany) are sources for theology. Theological Anthropology is both a
source of and the primary locus of Orthodox Theology.

2. The Human Person as Image and Likeness of God:

 Central Question: Orthodox theology focuses on the question "What is man?" (Psalm
8:4) rather than "Who is God?"
 Divine Origin: Humans are created in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). "I said
you are gods, and all of you are sons of the most high" (Psalm 82:6).
 Image vs. Likeness:Image: The "image" refers to innate qualities of the soul given by
God, like immortality, intelligence, and the ability to commune with God. This is an
imprinted quality that remains after the fall. "The image of God is identified with a
 particular quality of the soul, its simplicity or its immortality, or else it is described as the
ability of knowing God..."
 Likeness: The "likeness" is something that must be cultivated through experience,
commitment, and trustworthiness. It was lost with sin but is ultimately restored through
Christ. "Likeness needs experience, commitment; trustworthiness..."
 Human Dignity: Humans hold a unique place in creation, being the only creation created
by God’s immediate act and in his image, with authority over the earth. "God created the
human being as having control of everything on earth, and nothing on earth is greater
than the human being..."
 Focus of God's Economy: The human person stands at the center of Christian reality and
the whole of God's actions are focused on this creation from creation to fulfillment. "At
the pinnacle of creation is its formation by the very hands of God... the whole of the
economy is focused on this being..."
 Interrelation of Anthropology and Theology: The understanding of God and the
understanding of humanity are interconnected. The doctrine of the divine finds grounds
in its anthropological considerations, particularly through reflection on Christ as human.
"All theology should be understood as anthropology, because anthropology must be
understood as theology."

3. Biblical Anthropology: Creation and Human Nature:

 Unique Creation: The creation of humanity was a distinct and immediate act of God.
Humans are not simply an evolved part of creation. “The counsel of God... clearly speaks
of the fact that man was to be a special creation, distinct from the others.”
 Special Significance: Humans are the most perfect and highest being on earth, having a
higher purpose.
 Dual Nature: Humans are formed from the dust of the earth (body) and infused with the
"breath of life" (soul), representing a clear distinction between the origins of body and
soul.
 Dominion and Responsibility: Humans are given dominion over the earth, with the
responsibility to make creation subservient to God’s will.
  Caution against non-Biblical ideas: One must be careful of mixing non-Biblical
presuppositions into understanding scripture.

4. The Constituents of Human Nature:

 Trichotomism: The view that humans are composed of body, soul, and spirit. While
common in some Protestant circles, this view isn't dominant in Orthodox thought. "In
Trichotomism: A human is composed of three elements: body, soul and spirit."
 Dichotomism: The view that humans are composed of two elements: material (body) and
immaterial (soul or spirit). This is the more commonly accepted view within Orthodox
thought. "Man is composed of two elements, a material aspect-the body, and immaterial
component-the soul or spirit."
 Monism: The view that man is an indivisible unity, not composed of parts.
 Eastern Perspective: Eastern Fathers tend to see soul and spirit used almost
interchangeably.

5. Origin and Destiny:

 Creation by God: The Orthodox Church affirms that God, the Father Almighty, directly
created the world. They reject Gnostic views of a lesser creator. “I believe in one Cod,
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”
 Rejection of Gnosticism: The document explicitly rejects the Gnostic idea that a lesser
deity created the world. The relationship between God and the world is direct and
immediate. “The Church declared that the one God, the Father Almighty, was ‗Creator of
all things visible and invisible‘ The Father, God himself, is the Creator.”
 Human Freedom and Responsibility: Humans, as the highest of creation, are endowed
with freedom and the ability to choose how they relate to the world. This freedom is
central to the Orthodox understanding.
 Theosis: The ultimate destiny of humanity is "Theosis" – to be like God and to achieve a
union with Him. This isn't a pantheistic merging but a sharing in God's divine energies.
"The final destination of man is Likeness of God or to be like God –Theosis-union with
God."
6. Sin and the Fall of Man:

 Sin as Deviation: Sin is understood as any deviation from God’s standard of holiness.
 Disobedience: Sin entered humanity through the disobedience of Adam and Eve,
choosing to listen to Satan over God. "Sin entered to the life of humans because of by
disobeying God‘s commandment."
 Image Intact, Likeness Damaged: While sin damaged the "likeness" of God in humans,
the "image" remains. This means that despite sin, humans retain the capacity for
connection with God and their inherent dignity.
 Restoration Through Christ: Christ's work is to restore and recapitulate humanity,
reversing the effects of the Fall. "...through the obedience of one man righteousness was
introduced and will give life to those men who were once dead."

7. Restoration and Christological Anthropology:

 Christ as True Human: Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, is the key to
understanding what it means to be truly human. "Jesus Christ is fully and truly human..."
 Christ Reveals True Humanity: Christ's humanity is not simply an example, but He
reveals the true meaning of human existence. "...the corresponding epistemological
affirmation that He reveals true humanity."
 Focus Beyond Redemption: Christology is not solely about redemption from sin, but
also about the fulfillment of human destiny (Theosis), which is communion with God.
 Sin as Perversion of Personhood: Sin is not just a violation of law, but a perversion of
personhood that leads to a division between human nature and God.
 Christ as Restorer of Personhood: Through Christ, the division between created and
uncreated natures is overcome, allowing humanity to achieve communion with God.
 Ecstatic Nature of Humanity: Human nature in Christ is able to turn God's absence in
creation into presence.

Conclusion:

This document emphasizes the centrality of humanity within the Orthodox theological
framework. Humans are created in the image and likeness of God, have a unique dignity and
purpose, and their ultimate destiny is to achieve union with God through Theosis, facilitated by
the work of Christ. Orthodox theology emphasizes the interconnectedness of theology and
anthropology, making the study of humanity essential to understanding God and vice versa.

This briefing document provides a good understanding of the core concepts and themes in the
provided text. Let me know if you have other questions.

Okay, here are 25 short answer questions, 25 fill-in-the-blank questions, and 50 multiple-choice
questions with answers, based on the provided sources.

Short Answer Questions:

1. According to Eastern Orthodox theology, is theology a study about God or an aspect of

mystical experience?
o An aspect of mystical experience.
2. What is the approach of the mystical theology of the Eastern Orthodox churches?
o Apophatic.
3. What are the two classifications of Revelation?
o General and special.
4. According to St. Basil, what is the most difficult of sciences?
o To know one's self.
5. What question does Eastern Orthodox Theology ask instead of "who is God?"?
o "What is man?"
6. According to the sources, what two things did God create man after?
o Image and likeness.
7. What is identified with a particular quality of the soul, such as its simplicity or
immortality?
o The image of God.
8. What was affected by sin, the image or the likeness?
o The likeness.
9. What is at the center of Christian reality?
o The human person.
10. According to the sources, what does the doctrine of the human person hold a central
position in?
o Orthodox theology.
11. According to the sources, can Christian anthropology be rightly understood without
understanding God?

 No.

12. In what single person do the anthropos and Theos meet?

o Jesus Christ.
13. What must any adequate reflection on the human person within the Christian tradition
begin with?
o Consideration of the broader reality of creation.
14. According to the sources, what did God create the universe for?
o Human beings.
15. In the Genesis creation story, what is humanity's unique creation described as?
o After the image and likeness of God.
16. According to the sources, what is the intention of contemporary theology’s transition
from nature to humanity?
o To underscore the importance of difference of humanity from the rest of
creation.
17. According to the Genesis creation story, who was to have dominion over the earth?
o Man.
18. According to the sources, what was excluded in the creation of the soul?

 Pre-existing material.

19. According to the sources, where does man stand in the created orders?
o At the apex.
20. According to the sources, what three elements is man composed of, according to
Trichotomism?
o Body, soul, and spirit.
 21. What is the Greek word for body, according to the sources?
o Soma
22. According to the sources, what does Dichotomism say man is composed of?
o A material aspect (body) and immaterial component (soul or spirit).
23. What does Monism insist about man?
o That man is not to be thought of as in any sense composed of parts or
separate entities, but rather as a radical unity.
24. According to the sources, what is the origin of man and the rest of the created world
considered?
o Major issues in theology, philosophy and other social sciences.
25. According to the sources, what does the orthodox theology firmly teach about how man
was created?
o That man is created by the one and only God at the end of creation.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:

1. Theology for the East is a means towards a _________ with God.

o mystical union
2. Mysticism is theology and theology is ________.
o mysticism
3. The mystical theology of the Eastern Orthodox churches is ________ in approach.
o Apophatic
4. General revelation encompasses physical nature, human nature, and ________.
o history
5. God created man after his ______ and ______.
o Image, Likeness
6. The image of God is identified with a particular quality of the ________,.
o soul
7. Sin affected the _______, not the image.
o likeness
8. The human person stands at the _____ of Christian reality.
 o center
9. The chief anthropological doctrine of the church is one that defines humanity in terms of
a reflection or _______ of the divine.
o image
10. All theology should be understood as _______, because anthropology must be understood
as _______.
o anthropology, theology
11. The doctrine of creation bases its history on how God created the universe for ________.
o human beings
12. The creation of man was an ________ act of God.
o immediate
13. God used the ________ material in forming the body of man.
o pre-existing
14. Man is crowned as ________ of the lower creation.
o king
15. In considering the makeup of man, we must be particularly careful to examine the
________ we bring to our study.
o presuppositions
16. In Trichotomism, a human is composed of three elements: body, ______, and ______.
o soul, spirit
17. The word Nephesh means “breath” or “________ being”.
o breathing
18. The spirit is often used interchangeably with ______.
o soul
19. According to Dichotomism, man is composed of a material aspect and an ________
component.
o immaterial
20. According to the sources, the soul is helped by something greater than itself, which is
_____.
o grace
 21. Monism insists that man is not to be thought of as in any sense composed of _____ or
separate entities.
o parts
22. The Orthodox Church's article of faith says, "I believe in one God, Father Almighty,
_______ of heaven and earth".
o Creator
23. Gnosticism denied that God was directly responsible for the creation of this _______.
o world
24. The appearance of man at the end of creation indicates that man is the ______ of all
creatures.
o highest
25. The final destination of man is Likeness of God or to be like God – _______ - union with
God.
o Theosis

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to the Eastern Orthodox understanding, theology is:

o a) A study about God
o b) An aspect of mystical experience
o c) A historical analysis of religion
o d) A set of rules and doctrines
o Answer: b) An aspect of mystical experience
2. The Eastern tradition does not make a sharp distinction between:
o a) Mysticism and philosophy
o b) Theology and science
o c) Mysticism and theology
o d) Dogma and personal belief
o Answer: c) Mysticism and theology
3. The mystical theology of the Eastern Orthodox churches relies on:
o a) Logical reasoning
 o b) Empirical evidence
o c) Revelation of God Himself
o d) Human philosophy
o Answer: c) Revelation of God Himself
4. What is considered a source of theology?
o a) Personal feelings
o b) General revelation
o c) Ancient myths
o d) Scientific findings
o Answer: b) General revelation
5. According to the sources, who said, "the most difficult of sciences is to know one's self"?
o a) St. Augustine
o b) St. Basil of Caesarea
o c) St. John Chrysostom
o d) Vladimir Lossky
o Answer: b) St. Basil of Caesarea
6. Eastern Orthodox Theology asks what question instead of "who is God":
o a) "Where is God?"
o b) "When was God?"
o c) "What is man?"
o d) "Why is God?"
o Answer: c) "What is man?"
7. According to the sources, God created man after His:
o a) Power and glory
o b) Image and likeness
o c) Wisdom and mercy
o d) Love and justice
o Answer: b) Image and likeness
8. The image of God is identified with:
o a) A physical appearance
 o b) A particular quality of the soul
o c) A position of authority
o d) A set of rules and behaviors
o Answer: b) A particular quality of the soul
9. According to the sources, what was affected by sin?
o a) The image of God
o b) The likeness of God
o c) Both the image and likeness
o d) Neither the image nor the likeness
o Answer: b) The likeness of God
10. Where does the human person stand in Christian reality?
o a) At the periphery
o b) At the center
o c) Outside of it
o d) Above it
o Answer: b) At the center
11. The doctrine of the human person holds a central position in:
o a) Roman Catholic theology
o b) Protestant theology
o c) Orthodox theology
o d) Secular humanism
o Answer: c) Orthodox theology
12. Christian anthropology can only be rightly understood within the scope of:
o a) Human philosophy
o b) An articulation of God
o c) Scientific findings
o d) Personal experiences
o Answer: b) An articulation of God
13. In the single person of Jesus Christ, what two categories meet?

 a) Body and soul

 b) Good and evil
 c) Anthropos and Theos
 d) Time and space
 Answer: c) Anthropos and Theos

14. Any adequate reflection on the human person within the Christian tradition must begin
with:
o a) The teachings of the Church
o b) Consideration of the broader reality of creation
o c) The study of human behavior
o d) Ancient traditions
o Answer: b) Consideration of the broader reality of creation
15. According to the sources, what did God create the universe for?
o a) The angels
o b) The animals
o c) Human beings
o d) The plants
o Answer: c) Human beings
16. In the Genesis story, how was man created?
o a) By evolution
o b) By a simple statement
o c) After the image and likeness of God
o d) From pre-existing material
o Answer: c) After the image and likeness of God
17. Contemporary theology considers the transition from nature to humanity as:
o a) A disjuncture
o b) A transition
o c) An irrelevance
o d) A contradiction
o Answer: b) A transition
18. Who was given dominion over the earth?
 a) Angels
 b) Animals
 c) Man
 d) Plants
 Answer: c) Man

19. What was excluded in the creation of the soul?

o a) God's breath
o b) Pre-existing material
o c) A living spirit
o d) Counsel from God
o Answer: b) Pre-existing material
20. Man is represented as standing at the apex of all:

 a) Divine beings
 b) Created orders
 c) Political structures
 d) Philosophical systems
 Answer: b) Created orders

21. According to the sources, what is not a view of the human constituents?
o a) Monism
o b) Dualism
o c) Trichotomism
o d) Dichotomism
o Answer: b) Dualism
22. In Trichotomism, a human is composed of three elements:
o a) Mind, body, and soul
o b) Body, soul, and spirit
o c) Heart, mind, and spirit
o d) Body, spirit, and will
o Answer: b) Body, soul, and spirit
23. What does the Hebrew word "Nephesh" mean?
o a) Spirit
o b) Breath
o c) Mind
o d) Will
o Answer: b) Breath
24. According to trichotomists, what is the seat of the spiritual qualities of the individual?
o a) Body
o b) Soul
o c) Spirit
o d) Mind
o Answer: c) Spirit
25. Which view holds that man is composed of two elements, a material and an immaterial
component?
o a) Monism
o b) Trichotomism
o c) Dichotomism
o d) Gnosticism
o Answer: c) Dichotomism
26. According to the sources, what is the soul?
o a) Divine in essence
o b) Heavenly in origin
o c) Of the dust
o d) A body component
o Answer: b) Heavenly in origin
27. What does Monism insist about man?
o a) That man is composed of many parts
o b) That man is composed of two parts
o c) That man is composed of three parts
o d) That man is not composed of parts but is a radical unity
 o Answer: d) That man is not composed of parts but is a radical unity
28. According to the sources, the origin of man is a major issue in:
o a) Biology only
o b) Theology, philosophy and other social sciences
o c) Physics only
o d) History only
o Answer: b) Theology, philosophy and other social sciences
29. What does the Orthodox Church's article of faith say God is?
o a) Judge
o b) Redeemer
o c) Creator of heaven and earth
o d) Lawgiver
o Answer: c) Creator of heaven and earth
30. What did Gnosticism deny?
o a) That man was created by God
o b) That God was directly responsible for the creation of the world
o c) That there was a God
o d) That Jesus was the son of God
o Answer: b) That God was directly responsible for the creation of the world
31. According to the sources, who declared that God himself created the world?
o a) The Gnostics
o b) The philosophers
o c) The Church
o d) The Stoics
o Answer: c) The Church
32. Gnostic systems believe that creation began with:
o a) Inferior beings
o b) Higher beings
o c) Material forms
o d) The creation of man
 o Answer: b) Higher beings
33. According to the sources, who is the highest of all creatures?
o a) Angels
o b) Animals
o c) Plants
o d) Man
o Answer: d) Man
34. According to the sources, why can man set himself for or against the world?
o a) Because of his emotions
o b) Because of his free will
o c) Because of his intelligence
o d) Because of his strength
o Answer: b) Because of his free will
35. What concept is used to discuss man's destiny?
o a) "The image"
o b) "The fall"
o c) "Theosis"
o d) "Redemption"
o Answer: a) "The image"
36. According to the sources, what does the "likeness" of God refer to?
o a) The perfect state of man at the beginning of creation
o b) The state that man will achieve at the end of time
o c) Man's physical appearance
o d) The way man is created from dust
o Answer: b) The state that man will achieve at the end of time
37. What is the final destination of man?
o a) Eternal life
o b) Union with God (Theosis)
o c) Spiritual perfection
o d) Moral excellence
 o Answer: b) Union with God (Theosis)
38. What was the understanding of union with God in Greek philosophical schools?

 a) Theistic
 b) Pantheistic
 c) Atheistic
 d) Agnostic
 Answer: b) Pantheistic

39. What does the Greek word "Hamartia" mean?

o a) Grace
o b) Sin
o c) Love
o d) Faith
o Answer: b) Sin
40. According to the sources, what affects our understanding of sin?
o a) Our understanding of history
o b) Our understanding of politics
o c) Our understanding of humanity
o d) Our understanding of science
o Answer: c) Our understanding of humanity
41. According to the sources, what did God give to man in the Garden of Eden?
o a) A place and law
o b) A map and compass
o c) Food and water
o d) Shelter and clothing
o Answer: a) A place and law
42. Why did sin enter the life of humans?
o a) Because of God's will
o b) Because of disobeying God's commandment
o c) Because of fate
 o d) Because of the serpent
o Answer: b) Because of disobeying God's commandment
43. According to the sources, was the divine image of man totally destroyed by sin?

 a) Yes, completely
 b) Yes, partially
 c) No, not totally
 d) No, not at all
 Answer: c) No, not totally

44. What was Irenaeus the first to emphasize?

 a) Adam's obedience
 b) Adam's fall and identify sin with rebellion
 c) The importance of human free will
 d) The concept of salvation
 Answer: b) Adam's fall and identify sin with rebellion

45. According to the sources, what is the work of Christ?

o a) A work of judgement
o b) A work of recapitulation and restoration
o c) A work of separation
o d) A work of destruction
o Answer: b) A work of recapitulation and restoration
46. What does the image of God represent?
o a) Man's physical body
o b) Man's spiritual connection with God
o c) Man's power over creation
o d) Man's potential for evil
o Answer: b) Man's spiritual connection with God
47. What does the Bible affirm about the image of God?
o a) That it is diminished by sin
 o b) That it is destroyed by sin
o c) That it is not damaged by the fall
o d) That it is only in believers
o Answer: c) That it is not damaged by the fall
48. According to the sources, what is the key to being human?
o a) Philosophical reflection
o b) Jesus Christ
o c) Moral conduct
o d) Self-awareness
o Answer: b) Jesus Christ
49. According to the sources, what reveals true humanity?
o a) The teachings of philosophers
o b) Scientific research
o c) The person of Jesus Christ
o d) Personal introspection
o Answer: c) The person of Jesus Christ
50. According to the sources, what two aspects does Christology have?

 a) Positive and negative

 b) Good and evil
 c) Natural and supernatural
 d) Legal and moral
 Answer: a) Positive and negative