St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Apr 2024)
Divine Energies
Abstract
This article discusses the historical origins and the development of the Eastern Orthodox doctrine of the divine energies. After a brief discussion of Aristotle and Plotinus, an overview is given of the relevant biblical material in the Old and New Testament. The article then looks at the patristic and Byzantine period, focusing on the Cappadocians, Maximus the Confessor, and Gregory Palamas. This is followed by an account of the revival of the doctrine of the divine energies in twentieth-century Orthodox theology. It also provides examples of how this doctrine was used by Orthodox thinkers to address epistemological and ontological questions raised in modern Western philosophy. The final part examines some of the most important ecumenical responses to the doctrine of the divine energies from Protestant, Catholic, and Anglican perspectives.
