| The current study is an examination of Kierkegaard's relation to Luther under the motif of Christ's presence in faith. A detailed account of this motif in Luther is provided by the "Finnish" school founded by Tuomo Mannermaa. This "Finnish Lutherbild" is still controversial in Lutheran and scholarly circles, but it has been systematically developed and is able to provide direction for exploring the motif in Kierkegaard. In examining his Ontology, Christology and theory of love, it is determined that Kierkegaard's understanding of the Christian's "participation" in Christ is very similar to that of the Finnish Lutherbild, a sort of participation that is cautiously described using the word perichoresis. This finding provides insight into a neglected area of Kierkegaard's thought and provides a new perspective on the relationship between Luther and Kierkegaard. |
