The Father's Eternal Freedom: The Personalist Trinitarian Ontology of John Zizioulas [Hardcover]

A justification of Zizioulas controversial ontology on epistemological, patristic and theological lines.


John Zizioulas is renowned for his controversial reflection on the ontological freedom as the cause and cipher of Gods being, which also has important implications for anthropology, ecclesiology and ecumenical dialogue. This view is bound up with a personalist conception of the Trinity, recognised in the teaching of the Greek Church Fathers, in which the person represents the primary ontological category. In particular, Zizioulas shows how, by virtue of the Father, personhood coincides with absolute freedom.

In The Fathers Eternal Freedom, Dario Chiapetti explores this ontology. Taking into account Zizioulas epistemological principles, his patristic reading and his theological development, the author systematically presents Zizioulas thesis, verifying its conformity to dogma and its internal coherence. Chiapetti analyses how Zizioulas proposal brings back to the centre of systematic theology the teaching of the Greek Fathers, especially the Cappadocians, and the apophatic horizon of dogmatic reflection. Such reflection pushes the discourse on God to its maximum degree, identifying and bringing out, rather than resolving or attenuating, the aporetic terms that structure it.GBDr Chiapetti has produced a comprehensive, profound and fair discussion of Patristic theology, as presented in my work, particularly with regard to its ontological significance. A most successful attempt to bring to the surface the immense significance of Patristic theology for human existence.Despite being the most influential living Greek theologian, John Zizioulas publications are largely occasional. Chiapetti knows the thickets of Zizioulas uvre like no one else. His defence of his theology - against all comers - tests its theological roots and explores its philosophical implications for notions of personhood and freedom. Impressive!In addition to providing a lucid ls'