Theological Term of the Week: Perichoresis

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 in the one being of God. Also called circumincession or coinherence.

• From scripture: 

  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 Robert Letham, page 108:

  Athanasius and the Cappadocians brought to the forefront the idea of the full mutual indwelling of the three persons in the one being of God. Although [the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed] does not use the idea, it is entailed by all that [the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed] openly expresses. It follows from the homoousial identity of the three and the indivisible divine being. Since all three persons are fully God, and the whole God is in each of the three, the three mutually contain one another.

Learn more:

1. Kevin DeYoung: Theological Primer: Perichoresis
2. Ligonier Ministries: Perichoresis

Related terms:

• essence
• Cappadocian fathers
• Trinity

Filed under Trinity

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Sunday's Hymn: Grace, 'Tis a Charming Sound

Grace, ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace taught my wandering feet
To tread the heavenly road,
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray
And made mine eyes o’erflow;
’Twas grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

Grace all the works shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in Heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine
May all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

—Philip Doddridge and Augustus Toplady

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• With Joy We Mediate the Grace at The Happy Wonderer 

Selected Reading, February 4, 2022

 

Three short recommended reads.

Scripture Reading 

10 Passages to Read with Someone Who Is Near Death
A excellent list this is, and some of you may find it useful.

Christian History

Dorothy Carey and Her Struggle With Mental Illness
The very sad story of the wife of the famous Baptist missionary, William Carey. 

At some point during the first months of 1795, [Dorothy] began to lose her grip on reality and slip into what today would be called paranoid delusions… .

Most of her delusions and fears had to do with a persuasion that William was having affairs with other women. Any reasoning on his part didn’t help. 

Read the whole thing.

Old Testament

Theophany and Christophany
“[I]f we’re paying attention to the Old Testament, we’ll find that by the time we meet Jesus Christ in the New Testament, it’s not actually the first time we’ve met Him. We’ve already been introduced.” —Simply Put