Editing Trinity (section)

=== ''Perichoresis'' ===
{{Main|Perichoresis}}
[[File:THE FIRST COUNCIL OF NICEA.jpg|thumb|A depiction of the [[First Council of Nicaea|Council of Nicaea]] in AD&nbsp;325, at which the Deity of Christ was declared orthodox and [[Arianism]] condemned|left]]
{{lang|grc-Latn|Perichoresis}} (from [[Greek language|Greek]], 'going around', 'envelopment') is a term used by some scholars to describe the relationship among the members of the Trinity. The Latin equivalent for this term is {{lang|la|circumincessio}}. This concept refers for its basis to John 10:38,14:11,14:20,<ref>{{bibleref2|John|10:38,14:11,14:20|esv}}</ref> where Jesus is instructing the disciples concerning the meaning of his departure. His going to the Father, he says, is for their sake; so that he might come to them when the "other comforter" is given to them. Then, he says, his disciples will dwell in him, as he dwells in the Father, and the Father dwells in him, and the Father will dwell in them. This is so, according to the theory of {{lang|grc-Latn|perichoresis}}, because the persons of the Trinity "reciprocally contain one another, so that one permanently envelopes and is permanently enveloped by, the other whom he yet envelopes" ([[Hilary of Poitiers]], ''Concerning the Trinity'' 3:1).<ref name="hilary-john" /> The most prominent exponent of {{lang|grc-Latn|perichoresis}} was [[John of Damascus]] (d. 749) who employed the concept as a technical term to describe both the interpenetration of the divine and human natures of Christ and the relationship between the hypostases of the Trinity.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Cross |editor-first=F. L. |title=Cicumincession |dictionary=The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |edition=2nd |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1974}}</ref>

{{lang|grc-Latn|Perichoresis}} effectively excludes the idea that God has parts, but rather is a [[divine simplicity|simple being]]. It also harmonizes well with the doctrine that the Christian's union with the Son in his humanity brings him into union with one who contains in himself, in Paul's words, "all the fullness of deity" and not a part.{{efn|See also [[Divinization (Christian)]]}} {{lang|grc-Latn|Perichoresis}} provides an intuitive figure of what this might mean. The Son, the eternal Word, is from all eternity the dwelling place of God; he is the "Father's house", just as the Son dwells in the Father and the Spirit; so that, when the Spirit is "given", then it happens as Jesus said, "I will not leave you as orphans; for I will come to you."<ref>{{bibleverse|John|14:18|esv}}</ref>