This book is not an introductory text. It presumes some
philosophical background and interest in reasoned thought. I have
written it as I approach my “retirement years,” as it were, and thus
it does not contain reference to the latest scholars who may be
writing on this topic. I have reverted, for my own ease of memory,
to names with which I was made familiar in my formative
philosophical years.

My contention for many years has been that theological problems
are first and, primarily, philosophical problems and need to be
solved as such. To my mind, Dr. Leslie Dewart’s understanding of
“dehellenization,” not to be confused with “unhellenization,”
provides a philosophical opportunity for fresh reflection on our
inherited classical understanding which presents contemporary
problems for theologians. I have attempted such reflection in these
pages. I leave it to the reader to decide whether or not my reflections
have clarified the issues or clouded them.