The Triune God of Christian Faith
Published on 1. December 1990
Book
Paperback/Softback
136 pages
978-0-8146-5765-2 (ISBN)
Description
Although the triune God is the heart of our faith, not much scholarship exists in recent years regarding it. The very depth of the mystery itself inclines us to silence. Also, feminist critiques of male symbols and language about the Trinity make it easier to say nothing.
This small volume takes a first step toward answering the need for contemporary scholarship on the Trinity. It "opens readers to the meaning of the triune God for our concrete human lives, and in giving a taste of the vast riches of this God, to make the reader hunger for more."
This small volume takes a first step toward answering the need for contemporary scholarship on the Trinity. It "opens readers to the meaning of the triune God for our concrete human lives, and in giving a taste of the vast riches of this God, to make the reader hunger for more."
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Collegeville, MN
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
179 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8146-5765-2 (9780814657652)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mary Ann Fatula, O.P., received her doctorate in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America in 1981. She taught theology at Ohio Dominican College in Columbus for more than 30 years.
Content
Contents
Editor's Note 9
Introduction 11
I. The Triune God and Human Meaning 15
A. Experience of the Triune God as the Heart of Christian Faith 16
1. The Foundational Christian Experience of the Triune God in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus 17
2. The Christian Community's Experience and Articulation of the Paschal Mystery 18
3. Reclaiming Christian Experience of the Triune God Today 20
B. The Triune God: Unbounded Gift-Love at the Heart of Our Human Meaning 21
1. The Tri-Personal God: Interpersonal Gift-Love 21
2. The Triune God and Our Human Meaning as a Thirst for Gift-Love 23
C. Some Implications of our Trinitarian Faith Today 26
1. The Source and Meaning of Jesus' Name for God, "Abba" 26
2. The Abba who Frees Us from Patterns of Domination and Calls Us to Mutuality 28
3. The Triune God as Source and Pattern for our Relating in Mutuality 31
II. The Paschal Event of Jesus and the Triune God of our History 33
A. The Triune God and Human History 34
B. The Growth of Jesus in His Human Consciousness 35
C. A Life of Unconditional Love 37
D. The Paschal Mystery: the Last Super and Crucifixion 39
1. The Last Supper 39
2. Crucifixion 41
E. How the Death of Jesus Has Saved Us 43
F. The Paschal Mystery: Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost 46
1. Resurrection and Ascension 46
2. Pentecost 49
III. Speaking the Experience: Attempts at Articulation 52
A. The Dignity and Inadequacy of Speaking about God 52
1. Our Human Need to Speak of God 52
2. Ways of Speaking about God 54
B. Early Christian Articulation of the Triune God 55
1. The Christian Experience 55
2. Jewish-Christian Thought Categories 58
3. A Turning Point: Christian Faith in Greek Categories 59
4. The councils of Nicaea and Constantinople 61
C. Patristic Reflection 62
1. The Cappadocians 62
2. The Council of Chalcedon 64
3. Augustine 64
D. Medieval Synthesis: Aquinas' Contribution 65
1. The Triune God's Nature as Sheer Existence 66
2. Processions and Their Extension to Us in the Missions 68
3. The Divine Persons as Sheer Relationships 70
E. Contemporary Christological and Trinitarian Approaches 72
IV. Knowing the Triune God 82
A. Preliminary Considerations 82
1. Knowing the divine Persons 82
2. Grace and the Missions 84
3. Appropriation 85
B. The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus and the Personal Identity of His Abba 87
C. The Cross and Resurrection and the Personal Identity of Jesus 89
D. Pentecost and the Personal Identity of the Spirit 91
1. The Mystery of Pentecost 91
2. Gift of Love Poured Out Upon the World 93
3. Experiencing the Holy Spirit 95
E. The Triune God, Our Home 97
V. The Challenge of Trinitarian Faith Today: Implications for a World Transformed 100
A. Trinitarian Faith Calls Us to Communion and Mutuality 101
B. The Triune God Freeing Us for Personal Autonomy 102
1. The God Who Is With Us 201
2. Security in our Personal Identity 104
C. The Triune God Transforming Our Family Relationships 106
D. The Triune God Transforming our Relationships in the Church 110
E. A Trinitarian Vision and Power to Transforming the World 113
F. The Triune God and Creating a Future Together 115
Select Bibliography 119
Endnotes 125
Index of Subjects 129
Editor's Note 9
Introduction 11
I. The Triune God and Human Meaning 15
A. Experience of the Triune God as the Heart of Christian Faith 16
1. The Foundational Christian Experience of the Triune God in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus 17
2. The Christian Community's Experience and Articulation of the Paschal Mystery 18
3. Reclaiming Christian Experience of the Triune God Today 20
B. The Triune God: Unbounded Gift-Love at the Heart of Our Human Meaning 21
1. The Tri-Personal God: Interpersonal Gift-Love 21
2. The Triune God and Our Human Meaning as a Thirst for Gift-Love 23
C. Some Implications of our Trinitarian Faith Today 26
1. The Source and Meaning of Jesus' Name for God, "Abba" 26
2. The Abba who Frees Us from Patterns of Domination and Calls Us to Mutuality 28
3. The Triune God as Source and Pattern for our Relating in Mutuality 31
II. The Paschal Event of Jesus and the Triune God of our History 33
A. The Triune God and Human History 34
B. The Growth of Jesus in His Human Consciousness 35
C. A Life of Unconditional Love 37
D. The Paschal Mystery: the Last Super and Crucifixion 39
1. The Last Supper 39
2. Crucifixion 41
E. How the Death of Jesus Has Saved Us 43
F. The Paschal Mystery: Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost 46
1. Resurrection and Ascension 46
2. Pentecost 49
III. Speaking the Experience: Attempts at Articulation 52
A. The Dignity and Inadequacy of Speaking about God 52
1. Our Human Need to Speak of God 52
2. Ways of Speaking about God 54
B. Early Christian Articulation of the Triune God 55
1. The Christian Experience 55
2. Jewish-Christian Thought Categories 58
3. A Turning Point: Christian Faith in Greek Categories 59
4. The councils of Nicaea and Constantinople 61
C. Patristic Reflection 62
1. The Cappadocians 62
2. The Council of Chalcedon 64
3. Augustine 64
D. Medieval Synthesis: Aquinas' Contribution 65
1. The Triune God's Nature as Sheer Existence 66
2. Processions and Their Extension to Us in the Missions 68
3. The Divine Persons as Sheer Relationships 70
E. Contemporary Christological and Trinitarian Approaches 72
IV. Knowing the Triune God 82
A. Preliminary Considerations 82
1. Knowing the divine Persons 82
2. Grace and the Missions 84
3. Appropriation 85
B. The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus and the Personal Identity of His Abba 87
C. The Cross and Resurrection and the Personal Identity of Jesus 89
D. Pentecost and the Personal Identity of the Spirit 91
1. The Mystery of Pentecost 91
2. Gift of Love Poured Out Upon the World 93
3. Experiencing the Holy Spirit 95
E. The Triune God, Our Home 97
V. The Challenge of Trinitarian Faith Today: Implications for a World Transformed 100
A. Trinitarian Faith Calls Us to Communion and Mutuality 101
B. The Triune God Freeing Us for Personal Autonomy 102
1. The God Who Is With Us 201
2. Security in our Personal Identity 104
C. The Triune God Transforming Our Family Relationships 106
D. The Triune God Transforming our Relationships in the Church 110
E. A Trinitarian Vision and Power to Transforming the World 113
F. The Triune God and Creating a Future Together 115
Select Bibliography 119
Endnotes 125
Index of Subjects 129