Scripture and metaphysics : Aquinas and the renewal of Trinitarian theology / Matthew Levering.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Levering, Matthew, 1971-

Series:

Challenges in contemporary theology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274. Summa theologica--Pars 1--Quaestio 1-43.

Thomas.

Trinity.

Bible--Theology.

Bible.

Theology.

Philosophical theology.

Physical Description:

x, 254 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub., 2004.

Summary:

In this major contribution to contemporary theological and philosophical debates, Matthew Levering bridges the gap between scriptural and metaphysical approaches to the triune God. Levering 's argument rests upon St. Thomas Aquinas 's understanding of theology as contemplative wisdom. Taking us through Aquinas 's theology of God as One and Three, he demonstrates that Trinitarian theology should be a spiritual exercise assisting our movement from self- to God-centeredness. Crucial to the spiritual exercise is the contemplative appropriation of biblical revelation, which, Levering argues, has to be joined to a correspondingly rich metaphysical analysis if the "God" who is revealed is to be understood in a non-idolatrous fashion. In chapters that broadly follow the structure of Aquinas 's treatise on God in his Summa Theologiae, Levering engages with a wide range of contemporary theologians, biblical exegetes, and philosophers.

Contents:

1 Setting the Scene: Theological Ends 12

Chapter 1 Sacra Doctrina: Wisdom, Scripture, and Metaphysics 23

1 Wisdom 28

2 Theologizing as a Wisdom-Exercise 34

3 Isaiah and St. John the Evangelist as Contemplatives 39

Chapter 2 YHWH and Being 47

1 R. Kendall Soulen's Post-Supersessionist Trinitarian Theology 53

2 Aquinas on Being and YHWH 57

Chapter 3 Scripture and Metaphysics in the Theology of God's Knowledge and Will 75

1 Jon D. Levenson on the God of Israel 77

2 St. Thomas Aquinas on the Knowledge and Will of God in His Unity 83

Chapter 4 The Paschal Mystery and Sapiential Theology of the Trinity 110

1 N. T. Wright and Richard Bauckham on Jesus and the Identity of God 112

2 Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Cross as Analog for the Trinity 120

3 The Paschal Mystery as Revelatory of the Trinity in Aquinas 132

Chapter 5 Scripture and the Psychological Analogy for the Trinity 144

1 Aquinas and the Psychological Analogy 149

Chapter 6 Biblical Exegesis and Sapiential Naming of the Divine Persons 165

1 The Person of the Father 169

2 The Person of the Son 179

3 The Person of the Holy Spirit 185

Chapter 7 Essence, Persons, and the Question of Trinitarian Metaphysics 197

1 Trinitarian Ontology in Clarke, Zizioulas, and Hutter 202

2 Trinitarian Ontology and Aquinas's Approach 213.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1405117346

OCLC:

187734226