Growing into Christ, the Prototype of Humanity: early Christian theology for the church today

How does the teaching of the early church speak to the modern world and its dilemmas?

Keynote Speaker: John Behr, University of Aberdeen

Location: Alphacrucis University College, Sydney

Hosts: Gospel Conversations and Alphacrucis University College

Gospel Conversations and Alphacrucis University College are delighted to be hosting a two-day conference on the continuing relevance of the early Christian tradition. The conference will explore the theological, spiritual, and pastoral insights of the early church, and will ask how these insights continue to speak to challenges facing the modern world.

The keynote speaker, John Behr, is Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen and one of the world’s leading scholars of early Christian thought. His books include John The Theologian and His Paschal Gospel (2019), Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity (2013), The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death (2006), Becoming Human (2013), The Cross Stands While the World Turns (2014), and Formation of Christian Theology (2 volumes, 2001-2004). He has also published translations of some of the most significant works of patristic theology, including Origen’s On First Principles (2018), Irenaeus’s On the Apostolic Preaching (1997), Athanasius’s On the Incarnation (2012), and Gregory of Nyssa’s On the Human Image of God (2023).

Day 1: Research Symposium (Friday 15 August)

On the first day of the conference, John Behr will give a keynote lecture titled ‘From Death to Life: Lessons from Early Christianity.’ Following the keynote lecture, scholars from a range of Christian traditions—Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, evangelical, and others—will present specialist papers engaging with early Christian thought and its contemporary relevance. Speakers include Doru Costache (SCD), Bernard Doherty (CSU), Katie Chambers (UNE), David Adams (CSU), Layla Nahavandi (AC), Leisa Aitken (The Hope Practice), Ben Myers (AC), Michael Gladwin (CSU), and Philip Kariatlis (SCD).

Day 2: Public Talks and Discussion (Saturday 16 August)

On the second day of the conference, following the successful pattern of previous Gospel Conversation events, John Behr will address a wider, non-specialist audience and will engage in extensive Q&A and discussion. He will speak on the theme ‘Growing into Christ, the Prototype of Humanity’, with three talks on three of the most influential thinkers of the ancient church:

• ‘Irenaeus: From Adam to Christ – The Stages of Life’
• ‘Gregory of Nyssa: The Fullness of the Human Being as the Ascent of Nature’
• ‘Maximus the Confessor: The Human Being and Cosmic Reconciliation’

John Behr will also be speaking at the St James’ Institute in Sydney on Wednesday 13 August, on the topic ‘The Future of the Cosmos.’

Come and be part of a rich conversation on how the voices of the early church continue to shape the life and mission of the church today! For more information, please contact mark.jacobson@ac.edu.au.

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