The Cambridge Companion to Hans Urs von Balthasar

A wide range of theologians outline and assess the work of Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988).

Edward T. Oakes, S. J. (Edited by), David Moss (Edited by)

9780521814676, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 August 2004

304 pages
23.8 x 15.7 x 2.6 cm, 0.604 kg

'The essays are primarily analytical and explicatory in character, often illuminating areas of Balthasar's thought that are difficult and obscure with admirable clarity and precision. It is interesting to see that the relative brevity of the contributions has in no way resulted in superficiality of treatment or a trivialization of the subjects under discussion; in fact the constraints of the form seem to have worked to the advantage of the subject.' Journal of Theological Studies

Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) is one of the most prolific, creative and wide-ranging theologians of the twentieth century who is just now coming to prominence. But because of his own daring speculations about the meaning of Christ's descent into hell after the crucifixion, about the uniqueness of Christ as savior of a pluralistic world, and because he draws so many of his resources for his theology from literature, drama, and philosophy, Balthasar has never been an easily-categorized theologian. He is neither liberal nor conservative, neither Thomist nor modernist and he seems to elude all attempts to capture the exact way he creatively reinterprets the tradition of Christian thought. For that reason, this Companion is singularly welcome bringing together a wide range of theologians both to outline and to assess the work of someone whom history will surely rank someday with Origen, John Calvin, and Karl Barth.

1. Introduction Edward T. Oakes and David Moss
Part I. Theology: 2. Revelation Larry Chapp
3. Christology Mark McIntosh
4. Trinity Rowan Williams
5. Church, ecumenism and culture David Schindler
6. Mariology Lucy Gardner
7. Prayer and the saints David Moss
8. Gender Corinne Crammer
9. Eschatology Geoffrey Wainwright
Part II. The Trilogy: 10. The Aesthetics Oliver Davies
11. The Theo-Dramatics Ben Quash
12. The Theo-Logic Aidan Nichols
Part III. Disciplines and Methodologies: 13. Patristics Brian Daley
14. Literary criticism Edwin Block
15. Contemporary metaphysics Fergus Kerr
Part IV. Conversations: 16. Balthasar and Karl Barth John Webster
17. Balthasar and Karl Rahner Karen Kilby
18. Balthasar's reception among theologians Edward T. Oakes and David Moss.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], History of Western philosophy [HPC]