PERICHORESIS AND PERSONHOOD

Perichoresis (mutual indwelling) is a concept used extensively in the so-called Trinitarian revival, and yet no book-length study in English exists probing how the term actually developed in the classical period of Christian doctrine and how it was carefully deployed in relation to Christian dogma. Consequently, perichoresis is often used in imprecise and even careless ways. This path-breaking study aims at placing our understanding of the term on firmer footing, clarifying its actual usage in relation to doctrines of God, Christ, and salvation in the thought of John of Damascus, the eighth-century theologian, monk, and hymn writer who gave it its historically influential application. Since John summed up a whole theological tradition, this work provides not only an introduction to his theological vision but also to the key themes of Greek patristic thought generally and thereby lays an essential foundation for those who would dig deeper into the present-day usefulness of perichoresis. Those who have delved deep in the resources of patristic theology for the sake of theological renewal have long seen the concept of perichoresis as a vein of gold. But few have explored to sufficient degree the terms complexity and versatility. Twomblys book shows us how much potential treasure lies hidden by offering an extended meditation on the most fundamental structures of John Damascenes perichoretic theology. His study is greatly to be welcomed and offers much to any student of early Christian thought. --Lewis Ayres, Professor of Historical Theology, Durham University, Durham, UK I recently set out looking for a reliable guide to the concept of perichoresis in the thought of John of Damascus, only to discover with surprise and disappointment that such a book seemed not to exist. How could that be given the concepts popularity and Johns undisputed importance in its shaping? I still have no answer to that question, so far as the past is concerned, but I am delighted to report