Charles Williams and the Promise of Co-inherence

AbstractWhile Williams fails fully to work out the idea of human co-inherence within the Holy Trinity, the potential for this is expressed in several writings. For instance, the image of ‘the land of the Trinity’ carries an implication of ‘dwelling’ in the Trinity, and there is also promise of this development in Williams’ earlier theology of romantic love. But the kind of co-inherence that Beatrice exemplifies in The Figure of Beatrice is simply being ‘in Christ’ who is Love itself, rather than participating in trinitarian relations of love. In the principles of The Company of the Co-inherence, the realm of active practices in the Christian life is detached from contemplation of the co-inherent Trinity, and so separated from a participation in the Trinity. The chapter nevertheless detects hints of a full view of human co-inherence in the relations of the Trinity in Williams’ later writings.