La philanthrôpía como camino hacia la theosis en Gregorio de Nisa

Abstract

The relationship between philanthrôpía and theosis occupies a decisive place in the theology of Gregory of Nyssa. Although both categories are central to the Eastern Christian tradition, their systematic articulation has been insufficiently explored. This study examines their mutual implication to clarify the internal coherence of Nyssen theology. The research problem lies in the limited attention given to philanthrôpía as a structuring principle of the salvific dynamic and in the need to understand its intrinsic connection with the doctrine of deification. The hypothesis maintains that theosis cannot be understood apart from a practical configuration to God’s merciful love, such that participation in the divine life is historically verified in concrete openness to the neighbor. From this perspective, deification is not reducible to an ontological elevation but entails an existential transformation integrating contemplation and praxis. Methodologically, the study adopts a hermeneutical approach, grounded in the analysis of classical, biblical, and patristic sources, as well as in a systematic examination of key texts by the bishop of Nyssa. The findings indicate that both notions constitute complementary dimensions of a single salvific dynamism, offering a solid theological-spiritual root for reflecting on synodality and communion in the face of contemporary individualism.