One might indeed begin by briefly explaining why we will be speaking not exclusively about John of the Cross exclusively. The Christian mystic tradition abounds in apophatic theologians (especially in the East). St John of Cross and the anonymous author of the Cloud of unknowing are only two more well-known ones of them. However, one must need focus on other theologians. John of the cross was definitely not working in a vacuum of apophatic theology. He had his predecessors as well as his successors. He must be situated and understood in that kind of context.It, however, is a matter of interpretation how a mystic theologian is understood to be apophatic. One must admit right at the beginning of any discussion regarding apophatic theology that it is not a word used in common parlance even among christians of any tradition. One must also be aware that it indeed ought to more common and that ignorance of what this term stands for represents an impoverishment in the understanding of christian spirituality. To avoid any possible confusion about what we are talking about let's begin with a brief definition of the word apophatic. One can do this by approaching the idea in an unconventional way. The word 'apophasis' basically comes from a Greek verb meaning 'to deny.' Therefore, in our context, the meaning of this word is quite simple and straightforward. The denial that any of our concepts, ideas, and images are adequate for comprehending that ultimate mystery that we call God. This notion is so evident in the scriptures and in traditional or orthodox teaching of the church that if any genuine christian (in the existential sense of Kierkegaard or Tillich) were in any sense to be labeled apophatic even if he or she had never heard of the term. 'After all the entire Book of Job' leads up to that majestic theophany which forces Job to admit that God has dealt with great things which we cannot understand; things too wonderful for him
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