Apologies that I have not been posting much recently. I am working on a paper at the moment for the Systematic theological association of Aotearoa New Zealand (STAANZ). I thought that I would include my abstract here and keep you posted on any interesting bits and pieces I come across.
Filioque, Personhood and Ecclesiology
The twentieth century revival of Trinitarian thought has seen some of the most intense work done in the history of Christianity in reconciling the Eastern and Western Churches. This essay is an exercise in bringing some fairly disparate voices into conversation over these issues. Thomas Weinandy and Colin Gunton have both written on issues surrounding the filioque clause. Using the basic thesis of Thomas Weinandy’s reconceived doctrine of the Trinity found in ‘The Father’s Spirit of Sonship’ alongside various insights from Colin Gunton this essay will seek to examine some implications of reworking the filioque for ecclesiology and pneumatology. We shall explore the way in which both Weinandy and Gunton understand the Spirit as the one who ‘defines’ the personhood of the Son and the Father. At this point the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in ‘Life Together’ will be employed to understand the way in which the Holy Spirit acts as the one who ‘defines’ the personhood of individuals within the church so as to be the mediator, not only of God-human relations, but of human-human relations.
Scott Kirkland
