The Holy Spirit: Classic and Contemporary Readings

The Holy Spirit is certainly the most misunderstood member of the Christian Trinity. It is often perceived as lagging behind the Father and Son, somehow floating free of material reality. Is there anything the Holy Spirit can do that Jesus can′t do better?

In order to clarify and explain the nature of the Holy Spirit, this new book provides a comprehensive collection of crucial texts relating to the Holy Spirit from Christianity′s earliest origins to the present day. Foundational issues are questioned, critiqued, and clarified by drawing on Greek, Latin, Eastern Orthodox, Mystical, and oft–neglected Syriac and Russian resources from throughout Christianity′s rich history. Each of the chronologically–organized readings is prefaced with theologically informed essays that draw out the main themes and point out important historical links.

The Holy Spirit will enlighten and inform while inspiring us to engage in deep reflection on the Holy Spirit′s role in the Trinity.

List of Illustrations

About the Authors

Acknowledgments and Sources

Introduction

I: Late Twentieth–Century Questions:

1. You Wonder Where the Spirit Went: Robert W. Jenson (Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton)

2. Trinity: Richard Norris (Union Theological Seminary, New York)

3. Living into the Mystery of the Holy Trinity: Trinity, Prayer and Sexuality: Sarah Coakley (Cambridge University)

4. Word and Spirit: Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury)

5. Charismatic Experience: Church of England Doctrine Commission (Sarah Coakley)

6. Vatican Clarification on the Filioque: Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

7. Matter and Spirit, or What is Pauline Participation in Christ? Stanley Stowers (Brown University)

II: Syriac Resources:

8. from Hymn on Virginity, 7: Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306–73)

9. [Eating Love]: Isaac of Nineveh (fl. ca. 680)

10. from The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition: Sebastian Brock (formerly of Oriental Institute, Oxford)

III: Early Greek Resources:

11. from Catechetical Orations: Cyril of Jerusalem (ca. 313–386/7)

12. from Orations against the Arians: Athanasius of Alexandria (295–373)

13. from On the Holy Spirit: Basil of Caesarea (ca. 329–79)

14. from On Holy Baptism and On Pentecost: Gregory of Nazianzus (329–89)

IV: Latin Resources:

15. Homily on the First Epistle of John: Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

16. Veni Spiritus Hymns

17. [The Holy Spirit Hovers over Baptism]: Rupert of Deutz (1075–1129)

18. Fourth Sermon for Palm Sunday: Guerric of Igny (1070/80–1157)

19. from Summa Theologica: Thomas Aquinas (1225–74)

V: German Resources:

20. from The Last Words of David: Martin Luther (1483–1546)

21. from Mysterium Paschale: Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–88)

22. from The Trinity and the Kingdom: Jürgen Moltmann (Tübingen and Emory University)

VI: Russian and Romanian Resources:

23. from The Comforter: Pavel Florensky (1882–1937)

24. Redemption and Deification: Vladimir Lossky (1903–58)

25. from Trinitarian Relations and the Life of the Church: Dumitru Staniloae (1903–93)

VII: Mystical Resources:

26. from The Discourses: Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022)

27. from The Spiritual Espousals: John Ruusbroec (1293–1381)

28. from The Inhalation of the Air: St John of the Cross (1542–91)

29. [The Spirit as Bride]: Matthias Scheeben (1835–88)

30. from Prayer in the Trinity: Adrienne von Speyr (1902–67)

VIII: Late Twentieth–Century Applications:

31. from How the Spirit Reads and How to Read the Spirit: Stephen E. Fowl (Loyola University)

32. from The Epistemic Role of the Spirit: Bruce D. Marshall (Southern Methodist University)

Further Reading

Scripture Index

General Index

Eugene F. Rogers Jr. is the Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He is the author of After the Spirit (2005); Theology and Sexuality: Classic and Contemporary Readings (Ed., Wiley–Blackwell, 2002); Sexuality and the Christian Body (Wiley–Blackwell, 1999); and Thomas Aquinas and Karl Barth (1995).

"This excellent resource gathers writings on the Holy Spirit from the patristic era to the present, giving each a preface introducing its context and contribution." ( Religious Studies Review, June 2010) “With helpful chapter introductions, manageable chapter lengths, and even full–colour images of relevant ecclesial art, this volume clearly lends itself to classroom use.” ( Evangelical Theology , Spring 2010)