The Whole Mystery of Christ

Jordan Daniel Wood is assistant professor of theology at Belmont University.

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Preface Introduction: The God-World Relation in Modern Maximus Scholarship 1. The Middle: Christo-Logic 2. The Beginning: Word becomes World 3. The End: World becomes Trinity 4. The Whole: Creation as Christ Conclusion: The Whole Mystery of Christ An Analytic Appendix of Key Concepts Bibliography Index

"Wood's tour de force asks the very valuable and interesting systematic questions so often missing in historical theology." -Modern Theology "Jordan Daniel Wood's The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus the Confessor sets out to free Maximus the Confessor from the captivity of scholarly discourses that have misperceived him." -Reading Religion "Jordan Wood makes a compelling case that creation is itself 'incarnation,' the radical identification of the Creator not just 'in' the creation or 'with' the creation but 'as' the creation. Wood skillfully analyzes key texts in drawing out the ramifications of this thesis for Maximus's Christology, cosmology, and other aspects of his doctrine. The Whole Mystery of Christ will certainly engage important new discussion of one of the most prolific thinkers of the Eastern Christian tradition." -Paul Blowers, author of Maximus the Confessor "Wood's contribution lies not simply in his own speculative audacity, but also in an unremitting willingness to take Maximus at his word without lazily assigning the most challenging formulations to hyperbole. Consequently, this book provides endlessly rich material for reflection and argument. Wood's ingeniously original interpretation demonstrates that Maximus is still as revolutionary and enigmatic a Christian thinker now as he ever was, and that the real Maximus needs to be rescued from the sort of scholarship that has too often sought to tame his exorbitant genius." -David Bentley Hart, author of You Are Gods "The Whole Mystery of Christ offers a brilliant interpretation . . . and both its novelty and its audacity will make for an intense and hopefully fruitful theological discussion in the years ahead. This book offers a new paradigm for Maximus scholarship and does it superbly well." -Hans Boersma, author of Embodiment and Virtue in Gregory of Nyssa "Wood's Maximian vision should enrich contemporary constructive discussions about the relationship of God to a fallen world that has yet to become creation in its fullness." -Christian Century "Wood engages vigorously with much recent Maximian scholarship and offers a lively and distinctive contribution of his own."-The Heythrop Journal "I recommend Wood's book to patristic scholars, academic philosophers and the most interested-the most dedicated-lay readers of speculative Christian theology." -Southeastern Theological Review "The Whole Mystery of Christ is an essential book on any reading list for students and teachers. From the outset, Wood warns that Maximo's work has been read poorly and superficially.... He knows well the difficulty in his invitation to open the mind to a theological depth in which vitality and future may well lie in the Christian faith." -Mayeutica