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Richard Cross explores the largely uncharted territory of seventeenth-century Christology, paying close attention to its metaphysical and semantic presuppositions and consequences. He shows that theologians of all stripes develop and expand theories that are associated respectively with the medieval theologians Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus.
List of contents
- Introduction: Two theories of the Incarnation
- Part 1. A historical framework
- 1: Union theories
- 2: Communion theories
- 3: Modes, distinctions, and theories of predication
- Part 2. Union theories in seventeenth-century Christology
- 4: Union theories in Catholic theology (1): Jesuits and Scotists
- 5: Union theories in Catholic theology (2): Thomists
- 6: Union theories in Reformed theology
- Part 3. Communion theories in seventeenth century Christology
- 7: Communion theories in Catholic theology
- 8: Communion theories in Protestant theology (1): Classical Christology
- 9: Communion theories in Protestant theology (2): Homo assumptus Christology
- Part 4 The communicatio idiomatum
- 10: The genus idiomaticum
- 11: The genus maiestaticum (1): A Lutheran extension
- 12: The genus maiestaticum (2): Ecumenical ventures
- Concluding remarks
- Appendix. Bellarmine's De controversiis and Leibniz's De persona: some textual parallels
About the author
Richard Cross has been John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame since 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.
Summary
Richard Cross explores the largely uncharted territory of seventeenth-century Christology, paying close attention to its metaphysical and semantic presuppositions and consequences. He shows that theologians of all stripes develop and expand theories that are associated respectively with the medieval theologians Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus. Italian and French Dominicans follow Aquinas closely, read through the lens of Cardinal Cajetan. But most Iberian Dominicans incorporate Suárez's theory of modes into their account, and Suárez, whose account is a modification of Scotus's, is in turn followed by his fellow Jesuits. Lutherans use Cajetan's account to fill explanatory gaps in their own accounts; and Reformed theologians by and large adapt the position associated with Scotus. The study ends with an account of Leibniz's Christology in its historical and conceptual context.
Additional text
Richard Cross's latest book is to be warmly welcomed by all those interested in the history of this central doctrine of the Christian faith.
