Peter J. Leithart

Zizioulas ( The Eucharistic Communion and the World ) defines a symbol as a means for bridging the gulf between infinite and finite, or between Creator and creation. Christian symbolism differs from pagan because paganism believes that the nature bridges the gulf on its own, while in Christian . . . . Continue Reading »

Zizioulas ( The Eucharistic Communion and the World ) argues that “the New Testament Churches . . . seem to have so identified the Eucharist with the Church herself that the terms ‘Eucharist’ and ‘Church’ are interchangeable in the existing witnesses” (15). He . . . . Continue Reading »

John Zizioulas ( The Eucharistic Communion and the World , 9) says that once the Eucharist is understood as an epicletic memorial, then there is no longer any question of “”renewing the Supper and the sacrifice ofChrist accomplished once for all.’” He suggests that . . . . Continue Reading »

A former student, Stephen Long, offers some thoughts concerning my post about Cyril of Alexandria . The remained of this post comes from Stephen. The Nestorian controversy is the high water mark of “temple”/”indwelling” language as a Christological metaphor. As a result of . . . . Continue Reading »

John Tavener died last week. The Economist , which has the best obit page in journalism, described Tavener’s prodigious talent, then got to the heart of the composer: “Some would call this consummate talent, even genius. He saw it entirely differently. His music was a gift from God, . . . . Continue Reading »

The Economist contrasts the Chinese response to the Philippine typhoon with the American one: “The initial response from China was niggardlya mere $100,000. It was hard not to see this as a slap on the wrist for the Philippines temerity in standing up to China over disputed shoals in the . . . . Continue Reading »

A TNR review of a new edition of Kipling’s poetry includes this unexpected information: Kipling wrote The Jungle Books , Captains Courageous ,and many of his most familiar poems on the crest of a hillside overlooking the Connecticut River, with a view across the river valley of Mount . . . . Continue Reading »

Charles Krauthammer isn’t the only one who says the fiasco of Obamacare threatens liberal social policy. Franklin Foer thinks so too. In sounding the alarm in TNR , Foer gives this forthright precis of liberal faith in the transformative power of the state: “Back when Woodrow Wilson was . . . . Continue Reading »

When John joins the heavenly liturgy (Revelation 4), he sees three main items of temple furniture - the throne (4:2-5a), the lambs that are the seven Spirits (4:5b), and a sea of glass (4:6a). In the temple, these were all in separate rooms: The ark-throne in the Most Holy Place, the lamps in the . . . . Continue Reading »

William Riley examines the Chronicler’s brief account of Saul in 1 Chronicles 10 ( King and Cultus in Chronicles: Worship and the Reinterpretation of History ). Why does the Chronicler include Saul at all, why place Saul’s story at the beginning of the narrative section of the book, and . . . . Continue Reading »