« Daviess Anse links or an evoluionary consnsity beeen Hekbalot mysicim and the sours ot humonieing thei tion r someinesmbigiows infor Inston, one can se veal temati, aed concep atte betwsen them, Thit is puriclarly nodceble in descriptions treating the Hes of losing the gap between the hana ae ee dine, and in how his ies xpos cr mpi or exci "There sno doubt iinet hisorcl-cultul ices ex Juda as well the erate they produced evel major eologica o thelogial ‘iference wells diver aides, belie ad presuppositions. Yt, they SH demonsrte 4 persitent inert in the auempe 0 wascend himan ours and experience God during his htm, Is js in this road Sse tas the agus modern tra "swysiim ca be effi and ‘tally enplayed to characenze dese dimensions fear Jewish relgows ie a experience "None ofthese cary Jesh wens pus cross myc ides in an onde ani comprehensive manner, Likewise, dese wating: do nos compe 2 ‘ned mystal maditon. On the conrary, diferent sources chroaghowt ‘ever Litorial phses in cathy Judai presen diveree models hat can be CGraceized a mystic, The nlade underaking the extraordinary jour rn undergoing the remarkable aanformatons aa visions dese Coie, Wl these paradigms have not evolved ino a lear synthe, they ‘reall inl component of aly Jewish mnysticiza. Beyond this they are am ‘xpresion ofthe perennial eal edging the gap between the human and fhe dine Abe ticae a Pee No, 14-185 Dut “The Den Se San ad ‘Mae Mpa” Te Da So Ps Hil Ce Toy ti od hi at iS yt a Se St ns ry nl. rend ‘Aeeiipttde ethtunae lee Cs Coe ua 99 (9 -e Fomine eae Cant Neorg ae alec ‘Shum Sou 90} 0: Fr Estee Tse SIE Te Onn jn sy. Rowland wl Moron Te Sy fa een i a Stet EARLY CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM Arnit D. DeComtex 1 Intrdution Ely Crssan mysicsm customarily as ben undentood a: arelatively hte Ptonicpilosophial produc of patric ehevlogy, mtb pricy by Denys the Areopagie (ao known as Pseodo-Dionysus, be is dao 2 Inne writen asco CE) Duns taghe she pophatc way, n which he son ‘ieapes the world ene with the Unknownble God. The ist generations ‘of Christians and heirfoncoal aatves ate fen cally bred aide as "background" coin ang ter fom Chany’ ison with Reopltoni, ‘Akhough i stove that pancular sand of Cheianty fed with [Neophronisn produced the type of mynsicim taught and pracaced by Denys, iis ako te tht lng Deine Dens ved there ws aad arch trubion of Chistian myrichm, which grew out of cven older Jovi ‘eadiions' When hiconans of Chrianty wk abou mysecimn, they tuualy define it mazowly in tam of the medieval Chrstian monatsc tein, in which the devote, through pital practices, gadaally pages Aha ftom che soul, experiences a spinal deh, ad ascend 9 000 with 2 God described as “love.” Yer compantivss, swaying mystic cro religions, have a les cular reticive defnison. For sample, they define wai a the dec experience of Utinute Rely. ges Bae we se ade the moniste deition of aytiien and examine, 3 omparatviss might, hose daa direct pemoreem experiences of Gd found in he foundacional Cesta sources. We wl nd chat ht proach " Fos teamentaihe nso css ty enthand Crt cone Ap DeGa“Whaeapowat os hii ciao ga ay ‘Poston Chor pon eh Ap Cot an Sota ee 6. Aven. D.Dacomice allows che texts themselves to define the phenomenon of enly Chistian mys, 2 Apocalyptic Expeviences "To describe shee inmedite, premortem expesences of God, the eaty CChvisians dit noc use the word “mystic,” which dives from the Grek word my tobe initied Aldhough they do sometimes speak of the wwe of “msec (mt) theft Channel thir drct iramedate experiences of God "apocslype” ape) or “revel.” ‘The most famous examples are che vstons ofthe heavenly ream and the Akscripsions of echatalogial evens given co John of Patmos. These are Aleerbed a “the reveiion of Jos Chie” Rey 1). The Book of ‘Revelion minis the fonn of other contemporary Jewish apociypss, in ‘which the otherworldly joumeys of seer are desorbed, fran on the premocem joursey oF isa, and the revelaon of sett knowledge of ‘or evens and comic ending. “Amoi the ely Chitin, dhe chim vo apocalyptic experience reaches fur beyond the prodcson of "new" Jewish apoaiypre uch. Revelation In Gatans, Pat wees that his papel was nor received ffom another avon, but “throug a revelation ofeus Chis” (Gal 1-1). He buses fhe abthonty oh apoeship and mom om tis espinal clam. In nother leer, Pal dss pel Jew uptea acentin which "aman ‘Chat fourteen year agp" ascended othe hind heaven where Paradise Tocaed and ead sere tha cannot be tol, Pal inate the ory 33% ccample of the ongoing “visions and revelations ofthe Lord.” which he boas off himself @ Cor 13:4.) Ephesians mensions the reveluion of Chis the Power, he flles of God beyond messire-amyery tit had been hidden nl was reveled ee Aposles and prophet va the Spit, This revetion ocems between the bohever anc Gd an nvaves dhe ier workings ofthe Sp a eet ‘he ucveling of Chris and hit lve, I is a profound mystery because i seine that Chis and bb church are weded lovers. This tensors Ephesians with Pau’ clam st his evelatory experience wt one he ‘Sovgheall Christians wood limatly sre Paul ses thisshared revelation 2s mmedate and ongoing as wells prescient and eschatological Tes are omtant gift ofthe Spin given tothe community an Paul understands inal bea servant of Chand reward of se mysteries of God Inthe Synopsis, the mystery of Gols kingdom is given only to che ladiver, wile she unbebiever sos without perceiving and hears without Eanty Cumstiay Mysticisit ” Uundentanding The dea tar he mystery “reese eo Chriian al kept fiom nbeheves appears to have bee vry eld and prominent teaching ‘now ako Pal. Only he blicver tale to bel the Glory ofthe Lend face-to-face and gral be ransomed in that Gry, wl the obi ‘er tues absenly ata weil concealing its plndor, This anslormstion ia -nysery hat willbe completed the excitologl moment when death i allowed up vicnzy upon Jesu’ rerun. Ths, nthe Pliner, the echatlogical ret of Jesus was famed the lst apocaype, wher eas would be revealed foes herve wt is night ages Thi caching, Tice the revelation of whit hide 1 Beever ohetes wih he wor of Jesus sharon the day when the Son of Man revealed, Gea’ ery jem ‘will in down from the hewens. His revelation tthe other Syopdc suratives is described a 3 vision of the Son of Man coming oa the clots ‘oftieaven in powerand glory. Avision ofthe coming King of Glia aricipned Ti 1 Deter, the experince of fess Che takes hacer the exhato- logical reveltion. Under the inlence of the Holy Spc te church aes slrendy had ug bebewers“the things dat angst Tongro hve agance ,” bari only atthe echaton (dhe end of ine) thi blover wil be abe to poses their immoral ie, when Jes reves to hein the sis 1 et 413-13). These mystical experiences were ndentood bythe ety Chistian to gunanse the suthoiy,legsimacy, and authenisity ofthe reaching of thvieleaden, a pone hac the Praline ator af Colon ties o sink st ese i terms ofthe visiomuy claims of his Chstan-lesh opponens. At the fume time, the Chria-Jewsh tadions pretewed in the Pseudo Clementine corpus, which undereand Prsl to be the Aposace, contin polemics aginst Pals cir to vsons a ther bal on sem. ‘When we zack eaty Chan eximonie about pemorens expences (6fGod, we discover tht hee experiences were thought to beefed ve ‘he indwelling Spin, and to be echatlogial and wisomiry, They were pected Be an elect a the poter of Chis, ano tani the msety fsmmonal 2 The Appearances Jens Jess posenerem “apesninces” ate 4 common fen in the Hete alfiough eventhe vision ion before i death (athe ley) peeved ‘he tansiguation works and allusions 0 tern. The Christians pre served tations of sposli vis ssocted with Jo's ll 9 the d= ‘ips, his payer in Gethemane, and his crasifion. Pal rans then ‘Ani D. Decoxscx catlies mdtion of pormarem visions and speaks of hit own ec ‘experences as "esi and revelutions ofthe Lord.” Tere ae loa suber ftecondry decripons of Pals incl revlon tat provide enbelish ‘nts Pal hime never mentions The aly Cirisian bec flled ‘eh mi cms o waking and steam visor of de temo Js. “The words of the posimontem Jes delivered in isons serve seve functions. They sive author ihe leader of various Chrstian comm nies They are used to comet opinions tat some Chriss didnot hike, sd to rebuke unwanted behavion. They ae abo ase to incleate ceria belies hie were proving 3 challenge for comverson or adherence ‘Chrlogclindotinaton seer co have been «pio. The words of ess delves i vison ae ako words of comfort patel relevant a2 tne when the imminence ofthe exchaton and Jeu? return sete being _quetioned. Jess's word ako somtimes reveal mys 1 those perceived ‘wordy of chem, In chet cae, Jen offen delivers sectarian eeiching a Porton ying and mythologies! ineracion 44 Chrnocentie Mystics “The main object ofthe syst experiences of God reported by the eaty Cristian: the fei Jor. When hv appearances decribed its arb, ‘fe even siting inte ane won. In some cates, these deseptions of ets archighly size, keying of seul page to Jesu appearance in ‘onde o make even more spec Chola! sateen, Whit ont ‘Sgicantabout he Chisocentrc nature of thee visions offen isthac they ‘were uderenod eo fencio a the se dri While Cod che Father remain Shrouded and iavishle, the alee Jess appeats ia his ste. This ‘Chrisology. in which Jaws appearance ands or Go's, paral developed in the Johannine maternal, and by second cennary Christan {Beslan fond of "This underanding of ee the ve body of Goon cath was ba upon evo rebel seapral complexcs One compley includes a number of asages abou the maniexation of VHWH, called bis Glory (MT: kad TX: dev), prticully Exod 33:20 aud Ezekiel 126-28. A aumber of ther pasgesanocatethe revelation of dhe Kid wih the fore rer ‘ow feel and Gods Judgment The comple ha emerges is one focived pean ts up ois bt hey ony Ba ae Dime yw a le Bieumnaeransocny seh gun tne Bek aaa 33 2 ancy Crnsz1an Mysricisas n on the bideanes of God. Dieet viewing of God wil bring death vo sents who azemp to gure upon hin, oe maniess himself a oily on dati luminous, even angec. The Glory andthe Lord himsl ere indtinguthable, and God manos a his Glory enthroned in eave nd seen bythe prophets. The Gory mill be reveled when God's Fadgucat comes on the world. The second sepia complex incudes 2 numberof pastages mentioning the Angel of YHWH asthe humke dine bag twine bers the Namne YHWHL! Like dhe Kael, the YEWH angel woe idersood to be interchangeable with Ga or operating widh Gas power and authority ad wae nscised with Jdgment. ‘With reference o these sxptral complexes, es was asocated with he ‘Glory. Fle was fxne the asthoponoepicmanesation of Go ad che ‘Ange ofthe Lon, wie bore Gods Name and linge. eas in this way eh Jess became understood asthe vile image ofthe inisle Govt. Th ion of es were powerfil mysacl experiences of God hse, exper ces that were understood by the aly Chita tobe I eng 5 (Apo}heose ‘Although the vionsofJesu appear to hve fulfilled a namiber of ial and religous fmevons, atthe heat ofthe "revelation of fous Chris” was setesoloped aseron. The mystical encounter with ess tansiguted the seer. Paul embraces the vison of fst Chit aie atering Hewes in (Corinthians :16-18 that conveson velit ied off the converts ce ‘With unveiled tices, Chistian lok int 4 miro and se ta thee on ‘efeion are being anormed into God's Image by degrees of lor. Pal dap (1 Cor r5:12 tha this gral tanstormation ito the Glory is made Posie through the power of she Spine of the Lond who dels inthe i Since Pal had iletiied God's Sprit a the spit of Jess Chris, he tandestood Christians a thote who were posse by his prt and had *htaken on “the same foem a the Image of hi Son” (Rom 829: eal 196) He adcees the struggling Gaatany 9 congregation hei sing ‘rth “nal Chi isonmed i you” (Gal 4:9}. Pal ems tae beenae ‘Chr dwells in hin, he hae Ben rusfed with Chris "leno Tonge ‘rho tv,” he ys, "but Chis who lives in ne” (Gal 20). He appli this ‘ane etonale to other Christan, explain eh if the Spi of Chest sin them, ter bodies may be dead dee ton, but thi spins ae alive de wo™ Avett D. Decoxtex righteousness. Pas commands people tobe tanned by emaking thee ‘ind. This gral, ongoing proces of fps va Chri wil oe be completed unt he eschuton, when the ghost body wil eplace the Hesh 2s the flint ofthe peoms ofrereesom. The plones body wa the body ese the loge of ce man om heaven Jens Chis. ‘The ongoing (jars da Paul experiences posible not only becase| ‘he wsionary is identi wih che Glory a which the Lf per inthe smigoe. A posessive dynamic ao involved, in which dhe enbodiment of (he spine of ens rele i tention with im. Since he ie YHWH- Manis, the Gory ofthe Lord, andthe Tage of the aisle Gd, the Indwelling ois pr haa powers enfomnaiv efeetonthe poets Te presence within dhe believer works to ranfigre him he ita the se linge of God. The bebever ie loed by dere, antl he glorficton it filly craze at the chan, wih he final tafguaion eos pnt, semueced dy ven hough the Jobsoninewason fests dren ciphates cisvery Siow the Pl i undentanding esas 5 God mano on ears, While Paul emphinizs eat eu the mansion of God, te Johannine a= tion emphases that Jess the maniesation of Gul Ts iference mphasis as cased ome confison i scholhip and the advancement of the fhwed view dae Pau is advocates “Chait mycin.” centering on ‘Chris a dine fm Goo the Fates, wile John is focusing on “God tick," which maker no och distinction. This is notthe ee however For Pau the mow sigicane pate ofthe Kad Chstology i tht fours swhete Go! his been maifeed and localizes. we conform curses to Joss, we experience + sini (plone and location of God. The Johannine author wants to sre the second half of ha eton: sis {Gol sae oe earth. Because of this cmphass, b's quite spit a dering ‘hele of Jers the hits son of his war the vason of God ohn 1:7 Even the anges in heaven mus descend to eat ose the mnie tion of Godin dhe hiszrcal Jen! According Jon ve dete vision ofthe hivoril Jos was immorizing [Buthiow does one go about “seeing” fs afer eis dead when te 2thor offs clearhac igs to heave ate prohibies Like Pal the Johannine furor undestnds dit the Spit of Jess phys a role iw the Chesian comamany. Since Jess gone, the Spit or Paraceterepics the historic Jews as Gods nafeaton on cat At theca of the Jolaine pope, * See Ale Scene, Te Mp of Re Apc, nk, Wie Magny ‘tiwe Ta on Hop Cw Ps 98 Eanty Cumstiay Sivericsi 1s Jou Bass wth erat tho ho ve “noses ba “ee ain ory) Thoughoxt he ope the concep of atin Jun itepeney linked wi th sina experience, tha ath replat soso Ba onsasa format euiguaton Th concee developed Jonine spi, wich ake cart ous apesince ated te wie ‘carina tangs. “hesype ofp ut develop se Johannine ler spp tobediey eiponng an stg ner om nan ae teste mthor ofthe Gone of Thoma, Thanaine nysicam wht oor “opens” whishenosrg ie ath eset heaven pe seth Living Go and his Son before eth in nto chevy ‘he Syrian Chess who roe te Gone Tanase al son shout she arent dough the phe, the enjoyment of Pande ‘onary mecaags wih herent Sopsngen and the Living Ged el So, and eatin it she primo Man In rer comane ‘ih he Living God al Son, hee Sn Ch ened Sper-teaven mys wth al -dcihie tnt Weald eon he ey ofpustor, There wa ated heology da gh ttc nay ‘sr ominin whom he Sp delscoal come le boa pao, ongh tahes hing eres in spc he voy oy of an before the tw beled one olde nde Pre tnd divans of Jou and God ough a regine ef een and ‘ciation. enna sh woul bg oeficeto- eth oer om Godimage, sion dared ceo eal ries eT finn of mpsion procinoe fo tht whch pores ier Eaten Ontioson, 6 The Democrasztion ofthe Mystical One of the mow fascinating apece oF exy Chisian mycin i the Uemoctatization” of the mys vi the exalt of saraments he tke the presence of God seal al ove Basi, moi sta the Bahai wer allundestood weft the tustormaton athe och and theintepraton ofthe Spit and/ othe Cs within ie Aseaty Pal, hase ‘ul were undentoodoreiaepte the peo into he beng ofthe divine apt washed one cleanand made one sigheots proved sneticaion "hrouph the indwelling ofthe Spc andthe Nine of the Lond ees Chie, Pra develops this old bapesmal theology by raminsing onthe imple ots of being posse by Chis’ Spin, which he undersunis t bethe “tanscenden power belonging t God,” It we have Chess Spent and6 Amie D. Ducomer -havebecome prt ofisody, shen we have expetaced eveything that he ‘experienced, incudng his dexh and eerurection, This why Paul ys (Roum 63-5) hat when dhe flare bape igo Jesus Cit, dey are apzed into his death, but they are aso reureted eo wale new he lied. Acconingly, we ery iin our bodies "he dea of Jes” 50 "hatte eof Jens may ao be manieted in ur bodies” (2 Cae 47-13). Paulas sins iterpetaton of de Euchvs. He understands that dink ing he blo of Chi and exing his Body ef ion wich him, on the Pcie arth peson who eats the meat ofthe scificed ail united ‘uth the god 0 whom that seni was offered (1 Cor 1ote-2), “The Johannine author kaows thas baasm and Buchan ae power myst experiences that bring Gods presence the Sih ia the absence of the hitoccl Jess, For this community, entrance into the Kingdom of God is dependent on "water and pit” that effec perional rebirth jh 3s: 40-14), Joe the “bread of" ehachas "come down fom heaven” Joba 6:3, 41 51).* Ths bread is is “sh, "which, whea ‘ontumed, provider the afl wth mimoraey John 6:1). The same {tue of his Blood, When Jr's Hes and blood have sen contamed. he incorporated int the penton, The texte lar, however, tha believers ace not ening the flesh or deiaking the blood of the historical Jesus, because Jess hie hae acne ro heaven and his fs hasbeen wanformed ito * plored body. What they are cating i “Bech” eafgured and made ‘vin vin che Spi, which joins wit dying the ceremony in he sme say thatthe Logon dis the incarmation. Because the Spins made smilie sia Jen's diviniaed sh and blood the fihfal who have fhten ic are mytcally nied with hi, His pce dus fen wth mater tnd begis the procets ofS dviniution, Eating Jers realy ithe fremonatzaion or rsunction ofthe es of the ff. tn later trad Sons, aching the Valneinian, she uadentinding of the Eachart pews. ‘Critinns believed thst these ils were efeceve becuse they sled om the power ofthe screc Name of God (HW) ara been given Jes. 1 mation that appear tobe part of he foundational Chrsan movement 2 {sry a Pal. The nvocstion of the Name effected forgiveness of nh het and salvation Lu eiacy was based on pencils common to ancient msg, in which the secret names of deities and angels were ndersiod to ‘any tremendors power. pn eaca Eanty Cursrtaw Mystrersa 7 7 The Cosmic Drama lteralioed ‘One spect dha cannot be averemphasise! the reltonsip been ety Christin mystcisn and the drama of cosmic endings dae Cin Jo Tabeved wold play out i thee time, This drama depended om the Genesis cy, which teaches thst Go eated una Being ini mage, Se tht they enjoyed ing diet in hit pence. Ania reader spi ‘aed abo: why exact ths was no longer the cane and what was needed 29 resore i, Mos: Jews chougt tha: Adan had made a bad choice tha had ‘epurted bin fom God, tring hi orginal tte or causing nt lovee “mtily. Thsmeanr thar per ws the hey to regorion ad leacon one ed in obedience Goals Ln, upon death rte exchaton oe woul be ‘esiored to the orignal creed sate and lve gun ia Parade They sgh ‘his via thir doczine of che rersson ofthe dead in gloria, angele ‘ody eflecing Go's Image. Jes such 3s the Theapese and che Qumranits belived thi the Bat nage cou be resored at leas provisionally, before deh; dit he echa- ‘ological encounter with God ad llthe promises ha went with olde Jud nw; inelding the promise ofthe orf bay. This mean that he ewan tatomallyreervd forthe Lat Day became avalible tothe fil in the pest inchading the revelation of God's mysteries and xcounters with God resulting in dhe (oth ofthe devote. Mywticim, tnd eschatology ae not compeang aemaives, however, bot ate ead ‘oppose ends ofthe same apocalyptic continaum. Fschasogy ve sla tion and wansformaion on 4 eoumie level st fare apocalyptic realy, Mysciam views savason and tnfomacion on a personal level, a an mmeiate apocalyptic reaiy. Eselogy ryan exer ot postponed. Mystisim is echatalogy acted in the prtent ad on a eon ntembzed esl, ‘Myiciam and eschatology nt only donot oppose ech the, hey work lnandem, Rarely sever in aly Chan htenture do we fad ane without the oder "Tho matter usialy ene ofoeas oF empha, with eter the ‘echatologcal the mya dominating nthe att Chia erate, the nwo opeace sens parsers, besaning with the ey memoris of Js He i emembeed a3 prope, none with he Hay Spinetti ‘vay he is reall asthe mystic par excelenes, in whom Goal’ Spit ce th xpos who ws ranged ne amino ange ‘he mounnin. A major focus ofhiseaching was the immediacy of God. He ‘was temembered aa teacher who spoke about te fare but nine ofthe world, when Gods Judge would cur and his Kinser would