Perichoresis

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Perichoresis in Christian theology, refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. The doctrine is based on John's Gospel that "the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father."

The relationship of the Triune God is intensified by the relationship of perichoresis. This indwelling expresses and realizes fellowship between the Father and the Son. It is intimacy. Jesus compares the oneness of this indwelling to the oneness of the fellowship of his church from this indwelling. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (John 17:21)."

The theological tradition has viewed the indwelling as fellowship. John of Damascus, who was influential in developing the doctrine of the perichoresis, described it as a "cleaving together." Such is the fellowship in the Godhead that the Father and the Son not only embrace each other, but they also enter into each other, permeate each other, and dwell in each other. One in being, they are also always one in the intimacy of their friendship. This intimacy is unique to family. As the Holy Family, the Father and the Son enter into each other and dwell, not only with, but also in each other.

The devotion of themselves to each other in the Spirit by the Father and the Son has content. Not only does the procession of the Spirit from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the Father express their mutual love, as they breathe after each other, but also it gives each to the other. In the procession of the Spirit from the Father, the Father gives himself to the Son; in the procession of the Spirit from the Son to the Father, the Son gives himself to the Father, for the procession of the Spirit, like the begetting of the Son, is the going forth of the being of the Father to the Son and the going forth of the being of the Son to the Father as Holy Spirit.

To present the Spirit as the fellowship of the Holy Family is not to suggest the inferiority of the third person. It is simply a matter of the uniqueness of the Spirit according to the Scripture and, thus the uniqueness of the true and living God. If there is a certain anonymity of the Spirit thus conceived, the Christian faith recognized this relative anonymity in comparison with the sharper features and clearer identity of the Father and the Son. This is the basis in the Godhead of the undeniable reality in the sphere of salvation that the Spirit does not call attention to Himself. The Spirit of Pentecost - the third person of the Trinity - gives the church knowledge of, love for, and fellowship with the Son, Jesus Christ, and by him with the Father. (Matt 11:27; John 16:7-16)

[edit] References

  • Lane G. Tipton, "The Function of Perichoresis and the Divine Incomprehensibility," Westminster Theological Journal, Fall 2002.
  • David J. Engelsma, Trinity and Covenant, Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2006.