Explorations in Theology, vol. 3: Creator Spirit
Overview
In this third book, Balthasar presents various ways in which something of the Creator Spirit should be experienced through his manifestations: in the way in which he leads human persons to the living God (“Faith”), in the way in which he distinguishes the spirits of this time (“Crisis”), in the way in which he initiates into the mystery of the Incarnate One (“Night”), in the way in which he breathes through the finite structures of human life as that which is incomprehensibly open (“Breath”), and in the way in which he reveals himself as love (“Spirit”).
Having this volume in Logos gives you unprecedented ways to study the theology of Balthasar. With just a click, you can perform powerful word studies, explore cross-references and footnotes, open theological dictionaries, encyclopedias, lectionaries, the Church Fathers, and much more.
- Unveils a thorough synopsis of Balthasar’s theological thought
- Links every cross-reference to the Church Fathers and to other works of Balthasar
- Presents practical and invigorating theological ideas
- Faith
- Spirit
- Crisis
- Night
- Breath
Top Highlights
“Here is the summit of the Old Testament possibility for man to walk in the sphere of the divine fidelity that is opened up to him and to make the truth of God the law of his existence, to ‘do the truth’ (cf. 2 Chron 31:20), ‘to walk in the truth’ (Ps 26:3) and to be ‘a man of truth’ (Ex 18:21; Neh 7:2): the ultimate reason for this is the act of acknowledging the truth of God for me, permitting this to have authority, permitting it to be true: the act of faith.” (Page 270)
“the original event comes into the present as if for the first time, in ‘contemporaneity’.” (Page 85)
“This is Chalcedon, in which Ephesus finds its completion: Christ as true man and true God. Finally, it was necessary to protect the ‘whylessness’ of the descending love of God against the totalitarian outreach of the human and cosmic eros: this was the Church’s adoption of the Augustinian teaching on grace against all ethical Pelagianisms of Greek or of Western origin.” (Page 325)
“Thus too the return of the temporal Word into the eternal silence, since this is the expression of love, is at the same time the going-forth of the liberated Spirit of love, who can now give an endless exposition of the double mystery of Father and Son: Silence and Word, Word-Silence.” (Page 110)
“The Spirit prevents us from closing the Word by closing our heart to it.” (Page 114)
Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) was a Swiss theologian, considered to be one of the most important Catholic intellectuals and writers of the twentieth century. He studied in Vienna, Berlin, and Zurich, and completed his doctorate in German literature in 1928. Incredibly prolific and diverse, he wrote over one hundred books and hundreds of articles. Although the Balthasar’s studies are diverse and scattered, his theology and philosophies are stirring, practical, and profound. He was drawn towards the spiritual and mystical theology of the Church Fathers, deferring to Scripture and patristic writers to answer modernist and neo-scholastic questions. During his life, he was both a diocesan priest and a Jesuit instructor. He was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II himself, but Balthasar died two days before his ceremony.