Theological Term of the Week

perichoresis
A term (from the Greek) used to express the intimate union of the three persons in the Trinity as they mutually indwell or interpenetrate each other. Also called circumincession or coinherence.

• From the Bible:

  I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17: 20-21 ESV)

  So Jesus said to them,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19 ESV)

  For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge, pages 461-462:

  The third point decided concerning the relation of the persons of the Trinity, one to the other, relates to their union. As the essence of the Godhead is common to the several persons, they have a common intelligence, will, and power. There are not in God three intelligences, three wills, three efficiencies. The Three are one God, and therefore, have one mind and will. This intimate union was expressed in the Greek Church by the word [perichoresis] which the Latin words inexistentia, inhabitatio, and inter communio, were used to explain. These terms were intended to express the Scriptural facts that the Son is in the Father, and the Father in the Son ; that where the Father is, there the Son and Spirit are ; that what the one does the others do (the Father creates, the Son creates, the Spirit creates), or, as our Lord expresses it, ” What things soever” the Father ” doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John v. 19.) So also what the one knows, the others know. ” The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him ? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. ii. 10, 11.) A common knowledge implies a common consciousness. In man the soul and body are distinct, yet, while united, they have a common life. We distinguish between acts of the intellect, and acts of the will, and yet in every act of the will there is an exercise of the intelligence ; as in every act of the affections there is a joint action of the intelligence and will. These are not illustrations of the relations of the persons of the Trinity, which are ineffable, but of the fact that in other and entirely different spheres there is this community of life in different subsistences, — different subsistences, at least so far as the body and soul are concerned.
  
  

  This fact — of the intimate union, communion, and inhabitation of the persons of the Trinity — is the reason why everywhere in Scripture, and instinctively by all Christians, God as God is addressed as a person, in perfect consistency with the Tripersonality of the Godhead. We can, and do’ pray to each of the Persons separately ; and we pray to God as God ; for the three persons are one God ; one not only in substance, but in knowledge, will, and power. To expect that we, who cannot understand anything, not even ourselves, should understand these mysteries of the Godhead, is to the last degree unreasonable. But as in every other sphere we must believe what we cannot understand ; so we may believe all that God has revealed in his Word concerning Himself, although we cannot understand the Almighty unto perfection

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Perichoresis
2. GotQuestions.org: What is perichoresis?

Related terms:

• Trinity
• ontological Trinity

Filed under Trinity

The term perichoresis was suggested by David Kjos. Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion, and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

My Desktop Photo 26 : Late Fall Lake

Photo by Andrew Stark (click for larger view)

Sarah Palin Gossip and Changes

I chatted yesterday with someone who visited Sarah Palin’s parents last week. He’s an old friend of the family who stops in for coffee when he passes through on his annual trip to Alaska where he used to be a public school teacher. Last night he stayed for supper on his way back to Minnesota. One of the highlights of his trip was spending an evening with Sarah Palin’s very tired but very proud parents and seeing Mr. Heath’s extensive collection of rocks, fossils, antlers and hides. 

Okay, so it’s not really gossip, but the title got your attention, didn’t it?

There is new snow in the mountains and frost in the morning, and the push is on to finish up the jobs that need to be done before winter. Two of the new window have been installed, with six more ready to be put in on Saturday. Most of the potatoes are out of the ground and in the basement, but there’s still plenty of yard clean up to do.

Yep, things are changing around here. I’ll be back soon to tell you about a bigger change than the seasonal one.