The Theology of John Zizioulas: Personhood and the Church

John Zizioulas is widely recognised as the most significant Orthodox theologian of the last half century and acclaimed advocate of ecumenism. From his indepth knowledge of the intellectual resources of the Church, Zizioulas has argued that the Church Fathers represent a profound account of freedom and community that represents a radical challenge to modern accounts of the person. Zizioulas uses the work of the Fathers to make an important distinction between the person, who is defined by a community, and the individual who defines himself in isolation from others, and who sees community as a threat to his freedom. Zizioulas argues that God is the origin of freedom and community, and that the Christian Church is the place in which the person and freedom come into being. This volume offers a critical appraisal of the theology of John Zizioulas. Leading Anglican, Reformed, Catholic and Orthodox international scholars, including Colin Gunton, Nicholas Loudovikos, Paul McPartlan, Wolfhart Pannenberg and Philip Rosato present essays which analyse Zizioulas' trinitarian doctrine of God, and his theological account of the Church as the place in which freedom and communion are actualised. Many include discussions of Zizioulas' Being as Communion as well as other lesser known works, now available in Communion and Otherness. Together they represent an unrivalled introduction to the work of this great theologian.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction, Douglas H. Knight; Eschatology and truth, Robert Turner; On the criticism of Being as Communion in Anglophone orthodox theology, Alan Brown; Divine economy and eternal Trinity, Wolfhart Pannenberg; The work of the Holy Spirit: the differentiation of human and divine salvific acts in the pneumatomachian controversy, Markus Mühling; Persons and particularity, Colin Gunton; Person and nature: the necessity-freedom dialectic in John Zizioulas, Douglas Farrow; Christian life and institutional Church, Nicholas Loudovikos; Church, eucharist, bishop: the early church in the ecclesiology of John Zizioulas, Demetrios Bathrellos; Authority and ecumenism, Paul Collins; The ordination of the baptized: the laity as an order of the Church, Philip Rosato SJ; The local and universal Church: Zozioulas and the Ratzinger-Kasper debate, Paul McPartlan; The Spirit and persons in the liturgy, Douglas H. Knight; Bibliography: secondary works on John Zizioulas; Index.

About the Author :
Douglas H. Knight, is a lecturer on Christian Doctrine. Douglas H. Knight, Robert Turner, Alan Brown, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Markus Muhling, Colin Gunton, Douglas Farrow, Nicholas Loudovikos, Demetrios Bathrellos, Paul Collins, Philip Rosato, Paul McPartlan.

Review :
’This collection of essays, edited by Douglas H. Knight, is a welcome addition to Zizioulas' theology...this is the first real book that solely discusses the theology of John Zizioulas. I'm looking forward to many more.’ andygoodliff.typepad.com ’... a collection that not only opens up a discussion of Zizioulas' work but, by engaging with it, encourages broader debate on such central issues as the relationship between the individual and the community and the very nature of God... This is a book that should be on the shelves of any good theological library.’ Theological Book Review ’The essays together provide not only an introduction to the work of Zizioulas but a development of it. The tone is respectful and the authors often point out that they are reflecting on areas of discussion which Zizioulas himself is seeking to develop... This will undoubtedly extend Zizioulas' capacity to encourage fresh direction of theological thinking throughout the Christian world.’ Theology ’I recommend this volume to anybody who is interested in learning more about Zizoulas and in pursuing new avenues that would advance the search for Christian unity.’ Logos