Foundations of Systematic Theology

369 Pages·2005·21.95 MB·English

by  Thomas G. Guarino

FOUNDATIONS OF
SYSTEMATIC
THEOLOGY
THEOLOGY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
CENTER OF THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY
Theology for the Twenty-first Century is a series sponsored by the Center of
Theological Inquiry (CTI), an institute, located in Princeton, New Jersey, dedicated to
the advanced study of theology. This series is one of its many initiatives and projects.
The goal of the series is to publish inquiries of contemporary scholars into the
nature of the Christian faith and its witness and practice in the church, society, and
culture. The series will include investigations into the uniqueness of the Christian
faith. But it will also offer studies that relate the Christian faith to the major cultural,
social, and practical issues of our time.
Monographs and symposia will result from research by scholars in residence at
the Center of Theological Inquiry or otherwise associated with it. In some cases,
publications will come from group research projects sponsored by CTI. It is our
intention that the books selected for this series will constitute a major contribution
to renewing theology in its service to church and society.
WALLACE M. ALSTON, JR., ROBERTJENSON,
and DON S. BROWNING
Series Editors
What Dare We Hope? Redemptive Change:
by Gerhard Sautcr Atonement and the Christian Cure
of the Soul
The End of the World and by R. R. Reno
the Ends of God
edited by John Polkinghorne King, Priest, and Prophet:
and Michael Welkcr A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement
by Robert Sherman
God and Globalization, Volume 1:
Religion and the Powers of In Search of the Common Good
the Common Life edited by Patrick D. Miller, Jr.
edited by Max L. Stackhouse and Dennis McCann
with Peter J. Paris
Reason and the Reasons of Faith
God and Globalization^ Volume 2: edited by Paul J. Griffiths
The Spirit and the Modern Authorities and Rcinhard Hutter
edited by Max L. Stackhouse
with Don S. Browning Foundations of Systematic Theology
Thomas Guarino
God and Globalization, Volume 3:
Christ and the Dominions of Civilization
edited by Max L. Stackhouse
with Diane B. Obcnchain
F O U N D A T I O NS OF
SYSTEMATIC
THEOLOGY
Thomas G. Guarino
t&t dark
NEW YORK • LONDON
Copyright © 2005 by Thomas G. Guarino
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permis-
sion of the publisher, T 6cT Clark International.
T&T CLARK INTERNATIONAL
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T&T CLARK INTERNATIONAL
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Cover design: Jim Booth
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Guarino, Thomas G.
Foundations of systematic theology / Thomas G. Guarino.
p. cm. — (Theology for the twenty-first century)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-567-02980-8 — ISBN 0-567-02751-1 (pbk.)
1. Theology—Methodology. 2. Catholic Church—Doctrines. 3. Catholic
Church and philosophy. 4. First philosophy. I. Title. II. Series
BX1751.3.G83 2005
230f.01—dc22
2004029701
Printed in the United States of America
0607080910 1098765432
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
1. Christian Doctrine and Contemporary Challenges 1
2.Christian Doctrine and a Renewed First Philosophy 39
3.Christian Doctrine and Truth: Contemporary Challenges 73
4.Christian Doctrine and Truth: Renewals 107
5.Interpretation and the Nature of Christian Doctrine 141
6. Renewing the Hermeneutics of Christian Doctrine 169
7.Christian Doctrine and Theological Language 209
8.Analogy and Its Supplements 239
9.Correlation and the Tradition 269
10. Correlation and Contemporary Models 311
Conclusion 339
Index 347
v
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
One accumulates several outstanding debts when writing a book. I would
like to acknowledge, even if briefly and incompletely, the many who have
aided my research during the past two years.
Pride of place belongs to the Center of Theological Inquiry (CTI) at
Princeton, New Jersey. The lion's share of the book was written at this
unique institution, founded for the purpose of promoting advanced theo-
logical research. I would not likely have completed the manuscript with-
out the benefit of residency at CTI, nor would I have been the beneficiary
of so many colleagues who graced me with their insights and friendship.
I would like to thank Wallace Alston, director of CTI, for kindly inviting
me; Robert Jenson, senior scholar for research, for his penetrating theo-
logical observations and his gracious advice; and Kathi Morley, CTI
administrator, for her constant solicitude and good nature in the face of
endless demands.
I would also like to thank Princeton Theological Seminary for the
hospitality it extends to members of CTI. In particular, the Speer and
Luce Libraries constituted valuable resources for research. I would add to
these the libraries of my home institution, Seton Hall University, as well
as the Firestone Library of Princeton University.
Robert Jenson of CTI and Avery Dulles, SJ, of Fordham University
kindly dedicated their valuable time to reading and commenting upon the
VII
viii Foundations of Systematic Theology
manuscript. I incorporated many of their keen insights into the book. For
the great generosity of these scholars, I am deeply indebted.
I would like to acknowledge as well the help and friendship of David
Lotz, formerly of Union Theological Seminary, and Edward Oakes, SJ,
of Mundelein Seminary.
I am grateful to the administration, faculty, and staff of the School of
Theology of Seton Hall University, who have been entirely supportive of
my work. Cathy Trajer, in particular, has always been kindly available to
me for printing and various editorial tasks.
Finally, I would like to thank Henry Carrigan of T&T Clark
International for both his professional and personal support.
INTRODUCTION
There has rarely been much doubt among Christians that the content of
their faith radiates a certain beauty. In broad outline, salvation history
speaks of a just and compassionate God who guides and accompanies the
people of Israel and who, in the fullness of time, sends his only begotten
Son both to save a sinful humanity and to further share with them his
own inner life. This narrative of salvation may be read as a love story, of a
God who not only redeems his creatures from sin, but who, through the
cross and resurrection of Christ, triumphs entirely over the hectoring
effects of evil: suffering, tragedy, humiliation, and death.
Over the course of centuries, this salvific dialogue has become crystal-
lized, precisely for the sake of its own truth, in determinate doctrinal and
creedal forms. Statements such as those issued by the Councils of Nicea
and Constantinople, for example, are judgments by the church about the
meaning and truth of salvation history, about the actuality of God s gra-
tuitous manifestation to us. They serve as unfailing guideposts in the
human attempt at understanding God's action on our behalf. They con-
stitute the particular form or vessel understood as one essential way of
maintaining and enshrining the church's faith. Traditional characteris-
tics of this doctrinal form, at least in its essential judgments, include its
unity and organic continuity, its material identity and constancy. Such
characteristics, in fact, help to constitute what may be called the "beauty"
ix