The Holy Spirit as Communion

In The Holy Spirit as Communion, Leon Harris examines the pneumatologies of Colin Gunton and Frank Macchia. For both theologians, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is foundational to understanding their doctrine of God, Christology, and ecclesiology. Drawing on the theme of communion, The Holy Spirit as Communion expresses the concept that the Holy Spirit is the person who perfects the divine nature and personhood of the Father and Son. It is the Holy Spirit who perfects the eternal communion within the divine Trinity, which is the source of the divine action that also perfects the communion in creation as an expression of the Father’s will through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit as Communion explores the essentiality of the Holy Spirit through a unique approach to Spirit Christology: Gunton is represented by a radicalized version of Chalcedon Christology, and Macchia formulates his account through the overarching metaphor of ''Spirit baptism.'' Therefore, the doctrine of God, Christology, ecclesiology, and eschatology cannot be construed without a proper account of pneumatology that takes into consideration the eschatological perfecting work of the third person of the Trinity--who perfects creation’s koinonia as a gift from the Father through the grace of Jesus Christ.''An excellent study. Harris has invited two outstanding theological minds to a constructive dialogue about the Holy Spirit. Having followed their lively exchange with attentive and gracious insight, Harris advances his own nuanced pneumatology: one focused on the Spirit’s active, personal agency--along with Father and Son--not only in individual soteriology, but throughout the created order, both in the church now and also in the age to come.''  --Rob Price, Associate Professor of Theology, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; translator of Hermann Cremer’s The Christian Doctrine of the Divine Attributes ''One of the most important frontiers in contemporary ecumenical theology is the one on which historic Protestantism and global Pentecostalism encounter one another. Harris’ comparative study of the distinctive contributions of Colin Gunton and Frank Macchia to contemporary pneumatology promises to inform this ecumenical encounter in valuable ways, not least by its careful exploration of how our account of the Holy Spirit can and must give shape to our doctrines of God, creation, reconciliation, and redemption.''--Philip G. Ziegler, Professor of Christian Dogmatics, University of Aberdeen''Harris’ exposition of these two theologians is lucid and illuminating. Gunton and Macchia receive a fair hearing, and their unique contributions are clearly spelled out. What especially stands out to me in this volume is Harris’ examination of the influences on Gunton’s pneumatology--Richard of St. Victor, Owen, Irving, and others. In taking his time to explore these key figures and their influence on Gunton, Harris has done us a great service. This is the most thorough and penetrating treatment of Gunton’s doctrine of the Spirit available, and a wonderful contribution to conversations surrounding ’third article theology,’ as well as discussions of pneumatology more broadly. A fine work!''--Uche Anizor, Associate Professor of Theology, Talbot School of Theology, Biola UniversityI. Leon Harris (University of Aberdeen, Scotland) is Assistant Professor of Theology at Biola University, Talbot School of Theology. He has written several articles and presented papers at theology conferences internationally. He resides with his family in southern California.