Leese, J. J. Johnson (seattle Pacific University, Usa)

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Christ, creation and the cosmic goal of redemption

J. J. Johnson Leese discusses how the apostle Paul’s writing on Christ’s relationship to creation, read alongside the interpretations of Irenaeus of Lyon, provide a meaningful contribution to contemporary debates on the interrelationship between religion and nature. Leese draws upon the integration of three related scholarly trends - the increased importance placed on biblical creation themes, the emergence of ecotheology, and the history of reception - while focusing on the Pauline corpus and readings of Paul by Irenaeus, thus uncovering a robust creation and ecotheological theology. Irenaeus’ approach provides the possibility for Paul to contribute to ecotheology, by way of a theological vision where the whole of reality in relationship to Christ and creation and by extension, to soteriology and ecclesiology, are central components of Paul’s theology.