Balthasars theodrama is very much the centerof his theology, not only in its place as the central element of his great trilogy, but in its bold theological developments in trinitarian theology, christology, anthropology, soteriology, and eshatology. Theological aesthetics, focuses on the transcendental beauty and the beauty of the revelation of god in the incarnation, cross. Volume ii offers a series of studies of figures from the earlier period of christian theology irenaeus, augustine, denys, anselm, and bonaventura. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Dionysius and bonaventure had indeed found divine eros in the cosmos, and in his confessions augustine had recognized. Though not invited to be present at the second vatican council, balthasar was later awarded the. Polemos streit als bestandteil theologischer kritik. He was also the spiritual leader of a religious community in basel, switzerland. Balthasar uses the ancient philosophical categories of the transcendentals beauty, goodness, and truth to structure this work over 17 volumes.
Spirit and fire a thematic anthology of his writings by. Named a cardinal by pope john paul ii, he died shortly before being formally inducted into. A journal of catholic thought and culture winter 2008. In the larger work, i argue that balthasar appropriates. His faithvision advocates the whole instead of the part, the synthetic rather than the analytic. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Barron and word on fire commenting on subjects from. The glory of the lord, it has become redundant to sing the praises of. Although it is properly set within balthasars wider work glory of the lord and the even broader triptych consisting of the aesthetics, theodrama, and theologic, seeing the form is one of the best single volumes of theology i have ever read. Starting with the theopanies of the patriarchal period, it shows how such glory is most fully expressed in the graciousness of the covenant relationship between god and israel. For quite some time, i have slowly adopted a rather balthasarian frame of mind.
In addition to the preoccupation with individual personality and destiny, there appeared, for the first time in christian theology, the theme of individual, personal and fateful love. Balthasar is most famously known for his sixteenvolume systematic theology which is divided into three parts. Earlier in his commentary,6 aquinas argued that philosophy is useful for sacred theology because it demonstrates the preambles of. A theological aesthetics, translated by erasmo leiva. Named a cardinal by pope john paul ii, he died shortly before being formally inducted into the college of cardinals. Be forewarned, however, that balthasar places great demands on his readers to know and have read both church history, philosophy and the literature of the last several centuries. Hence the importance of patience in the new testament, which becomes the basic constituent of christianity, more central even than humility. Starting with the theophanies of the patriarchal period, it shows how such glory is most fully expressed in the graciousness of the covenant relationship between and israel. Representation in balthasar 57 glory of divine love manifesint the crossof christ and thus the glory of balthasare primary and essential insight into the mystery of our salva tion. One of the often quoted passages from the entire trilogy comes from the first volume. Balthasars theodrama is very much the centerof his theology, not only in its place as the central element of his great trilogy, but in its bold theological developments in trinitarian theology, christology, anthropology, soteriology, and eshatology the dramatics contains five volumes, the first of which is a introductory prolegomenon which discusses the possibility of using the. It was originally chapter one of my dissertation on the subject of balthasars biblical theology of sacrifice.
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