Mysticism

Abstract

Abstract Mysticism is derived from the Greek adjective mystikos , meaning “hidden.” Although mysticism is a modern term, appearing first in the 17th century, the use of mystikos to signify the inner reality of Christian life and practice goes back to the 2nd century. (Early Christian encounters with Greek thought led to the appropriation of a number of terms closely bound to mystikos , especially theôria , or contemplation, and theôpoein / theôsis , divinization.) The most frequent use of mystikos was to describe the hidden meaning of the words of the Bible: its “mystical,” or spiritual sense. Christian mysticism was fundamentally exegetical for almost a millennium, and has always remained closely tied to appropriating the saving message of scripture in the depths of the soul. “Mystical” was also used to characterize various rites and forms of prayer. By the late 5th century the anonymous eastern monk who wrote under the name Dionysius coined the phrase “mystical theology” ( theologia mystikê ) to describe the highest form of consciousness of God in this life in which one passes beyond all affirmation and negation to unite with the hidden God, just as Moses ascended Sinai and encountered God in cloud and darkness.