Ruusbroec as a Theologian: The Holy Spirit

Abstract

Pneumatology or the Christian doctrine of the Spirit has a key role in the works of Jan van Ruusbroec. Being among the most prominent teachings in Christian faith, it is used together with the doctrine of the Trinity to describe the Christian contemplative or mystical life as a communion of love with God. By way of an exhaustive analysis of Ruusbroec's oeuvre, it has emerged that there are several accounts of the Holy Spirit, all of which possess unique and slightly different emphases given their context. Theologically, there is reference to the Spirit with respect to theology of creation, biblical theology, theology of grace, Trinitarian theology, Christology, the doctrine of Mary, the inspiration of Scripture and Church, and the baptismal formula. At the level of the spiritual life, the Holy Spirit is treated with regards to a personal relation of love with God. Keywords: biblical theology; Christian doctrine; doctrine of the Trinity; God; Holy Spirit; Jan van Ruusbroec