One of the Trinity has suffered : Balthasar's theology of divine suffering in dialogue / Joshua R. Brotherton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brotherton, Joshua R., 1984- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Balthasar, Hans Urs von, 1905-1988.

Balthasar, Hans Urs von.

Suffering of God.

Trinity.

Holy Saturday.

Catholic Church--Doctrines.

Catholic Church.

Other Title:

One of the Trinity Has Suffered

Place of Publication:

Emmaus Academic

Summary:

"The goal of this volume is to revise Hans Urs von Balthasar's theology of divine suffering, that is, his disputed discourse on the descent of Christ into hell and its implications for the Triune God, according to a robust contemporary Catholic theology. In order to accomplish such an appropriation, I have recourse not only to twentieth-century Thomistic theology, but also to the thought of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) and Pope St. John Paul II. I seek to engage the best of the vast relevant secondary literature on Balthasar and to offer a balanced assessment of his work on the topic of divine suffering, both critical and appreciative in different respects. I argue for a peculiar interpretation of Balthasar's take on Holy Saturday and for a more refined use of language in theological discourse than is typical of his sometimes-hyperbolic style. Recognizing his laudable attempt to integrate mystical spirituality and systematic theology, I seek to distinguish valid insights from confused mixtures of metaphorical, meta-symbolic, and philosophical (metaphysical) discourse on God, particularly, with respect to the classical problem of how the Creator who willed to become incarnate may be said to suffer. Truly, "One of the Trinity has suffered," and yet this is mystery of faith that ought to be carefully explained and understood in conformity with sustained Catholic reflection on divine immutability and simplicity, the dual nature and unique personhood of Christ, the Trinity of divine subsistent relations, the freedom of God in creating and becoming man, the analogy of being, the problem of evil, and the immensity and infinite value of Christ's redemptive suffering"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The infinite solidarity of divine love: Balthasar on the redemptive descent

A response to criticism of Balthasar's theology of the descent

The mystery of Christ's beatific suffering: whether he lost the beatific vision in his descent-suffering

Theodramatic impassibility and divine affectivity after Balthasar

Trinitarian suffering and divine receptivity: dialectic and metaphor

Theodramatic self-surrender in the Trinity and analogical discourse

Notes:

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

1-949013-60-X