Reassessing John Cassian’s Understanding of Deification = 요안네스 카시아누스의 신격화 (θέωσις, Deificatio) 이론의 재평가

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper critically reviews the existing scholarship on John Cassian’s theory of deification and suggests new research directions. Despite its importance, Cassian’s concept of θέωσις (Deificatio) has been insufficiently explored, with most studies focusing on superficial analyses of his Collationes patrum and De incarnatione. This study proposes a more systematic examination of his theory through three key areas. First, it examines the Egyptian spiritual theology, especially the influence of Evagrios of Pontus. Second, it explores Cassian’s criticism of the monasteries of southern Gaul in the early fifth century. Third, it analyzes the relationship between the themes of his writings and his concept of deification. The paper argues that while Cassian inherited the theology of Evagrios, he advanced it by distinguishing between Christ’s and human deification. His approach marks a shift toward the popularization of deification, emphasizing that spiritual progress is achieved through unceasing prayer and the integration of biblical reading, rather than through mere intellectual contemplation. This marks a significant contribution to the understanding of deification in Christian theology.