 The very method of the Periphyseon, which employs natural philosophy and exegesis of the Bible interchangeably, in order to contemplate and “read” the two “books” (creation and Scripture) in which the divine signs (theophanies) are manifested, can be traced back to Maximus’  notion of knowledge as contemplation of nature (theoria physikè). If contemplated and read from the right perspective, scripture and creation become transparent to divine presence.