The Doctrine of G od in S an J uan de la C ruz

J uan de la C ruz is often read as the exponent of apophaticism par excellence and as primarily concerned with spiritual experience and ascetical instruction. Arguably, he is neither. His doctrine of G od attests to both the cataphatic and systematic character of his thought. Via examination of key attributes of divine nature such as simplicity, infinity, wisdom, beauty and love, both the scriptural and T homistic roots of his theology are revealed. His systematic theology is inseparable from his spiritual theology and spiritual teaching, because the ground of both is a doctrine of G od that describes the telos of spiritual aspiration.