The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus Confessor

Jordan Daniel Wood's The Whole Mystery of Christ explores Maximus Confessor's theological vision through the prism of Christ's cosmic and historical Incarnation,asserting that "the Word of God, very God, wills always and in all things to actualize the mystery of his Incarnation." It examines the relations between God's act of creation and the Words historical Incarnation, the analogy of being and Christology, and history and the Fall, and argues that Maximus envisions creatio ex nihilo as creatio ex Deo in the event of the Words kenosis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

A comprehensive exploration of Maximus Confessor's unique theological perspective, delving into the depths of Christ's cosmic and historical Incarnation.

In his groundbreaking work, Jordan Daniel Wood revolutionizes the field of patristic scholarship by offering a comprehensive historical and systematic examination of one of the most innovative and profound thinkers of the patristic era: Maximus Confessor (560–662 CE). Wood's comprehensive perspective on Maximus' thought mirrors the theological depth of Hans Urs von Balthasar's renowned Cosmic Liturgy, while also providing a valuable corrective to that classic text.

Maximus' theological vision can be encapsulated in his enigmatic assertion that "the Word of God, very God, wills always and in all things to actualize the mystery of his Incarnation." The Whole Mystery of Christ aims to elucidate this claim. Wood's work is meticulously researched, considering the various contexts in which Maximus thought and wrote, including the wisdom of earlier church fathers, conciliar developments in Christological and Trinitarian doctrine, monastic and ascetic ways of life, and prominent contemporary philosophical traditions.

Through his exploration, Wood delves into the intricate relationships between God's act of creation and the historical Incarnation of the Word, between the analogy of being and Christology, and between history and the Fall. He also addresses such critical topics as grace, deification, theological predication, and the ontology of nature versus personhood.

What sets Maximus Confessor apart from other Christian thinkers is his unique perspective on creatio ex nihilo as creatio ex Deo in the event of the Word's kenosis. Wood argues that the mystery of Christ is the revealed identity of the Word's historical and cosmic Incarnation. This book holds immense interest for scholars and students of patristics, historical theology, systematic theology, and Byzantine studies.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268203481