Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Vol. 28 No. 2 (2020)

Systematic theology

One Source of Revelation and Two Currents of the Revelation Transmission and Cognition: the Apological Dimension of Joseph Ratzinger’s Theology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34839/wpt.2020.28.2.63-93  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2020-12-04

Abstract

The adoption of the personalistic model of Revelation and the rejection of the theory of “two sources” of Revelation at Vatican Council II has not been fully adopted yet. Fundamental theologians have assimilated the content of the Dogmatic Constitution on Revelation, but Catholic apologists refer rather to the misinterpretation of the Council of Trent. They keep reconciling Scripture and Tradition without explicitly referring to the living reality of Revelation as unus fons from which the two currents of Revelation flow. The article refers to the legacy of Joseph Ratzinger, whose theology has significantly influenced Dei verbum. The statements of the Bavarian theologian are a kind of an interpretative key to the descriptions contained in the documents Vaticanum Secundum and Tridentinum of the relationship between Revelation on the one hand and Scripture and Tradition on the other. Only an in-depth “theology of Revelation” enables the search for answers to the relationship of the sources for the message and the knowledge of Revelation. The first paragraph criticises the theory of duplex fons, the second assesses the possibility of adopting the Catholic variant of the principle of sola Scriptura, and the next points out the need to take into account the difference between ordo essendi and ordo cognoscendi. The conclusion presents meta-questions important to the Catholic apologist. It transpires that it is precisely the ecumenical orientation of Ratzinger’s theology that opens it up to the apology of the Catholic position because it allows us to see the real division between the views of Christians. Protestant-Catholic polemics often stems from the entanglement of modern categories, which must be transcended by reference to the history of theology seen in a longer perspective. It is worthwhile for fundamental theologians and apologists to realise that systematic theology itself has an apological dimension.

References

Akin J., The Complex Relationship between Scripture and Tradition (1.10.2005), https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-complex-relationship-between-scripture-and-tradition [access: 28.09.2020].

Benedict XVI, Exhortation Verbum Domini (30.09.2010), Vatican 2010.

Benedict XVI, General Audience Komunia w czasie – Tradycja (26.04.2006), https://opoka.org.pl/biblioteka/W/WP/benedykt_xvi/audiencje/ag_26042006.html [access: 24.09.2020].

Blanco Sarto P., Myśl teologiczna Josepha Ratzingera, “Teologia w Polsce” 2 (2013), pp. 23–43.

Boeve L., Revelation, Scripture and Tradition. Lessons from Vatican II’s Constitution Dei verbum for Contemporary Theology, “International Journal of Systematic Theology” 4 (2011), pp. 416–433.

Breviarium fidei. Wybór doktrynalnych wypowiedzi Kościoła, I. Bokwa (ed.), prep. by I. Bokwa et al., Poznań 2007.

Brotherton J., Revisiting the Sola Scripture Debate. Yves Congar and Joseph Ratzinger on Tradition, “Pro Ecclesia” 1 (2015), pp. 85–114.

Denzinger H., Enchiridion symbolorum definitionum et declarartionum de rebus fidei et morum. Compendium of creeds and ecclesiastical doctrinal decisions, Freiburg im Breisgau 2009.

Farkasfalvy D., Inspiration & Interpretation. A Theological Introduction to Sacred Scripture, Washington 2010.

Feingold L., Faith Comes From What is Heard. An Introduction to Fundamental Theology, Steubenville 2016.

Ferdek B., Objawienie w doktrynie kard. Josepha Ratzingera/Benedykta XVI, “Studia theologiae fundamentalis” 1 (2010), pp. 170–176.

Fisichella R., Dei Verbum Audiens et Proclamans. On Scripture and Tradition as Source of the Word of God, “Communio” 1 (2001), pp. 85–98.

Francis, Discorso alla Comunità della Pontificia Università Gregoriana e ai Consociati del Pontificio Istituto Biblico e del Pontificio Istituto Orientale (10.04.2014), https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/speeches/2014/april/documents/papa-francesco_20140410_universita-consortium-gregorianum.html [access: 24.09.2020].

Francis, Apostolic Constitution Veritatis gaudium on ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties.

Francis, Video Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in an International Theological Congress Held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (1–3.09.2005), https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/messages/pont-messages/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150903_videomessaggio-teologia-buenos-aires.html [access: 24.09.2020].

Gaál de E., The Theologian Joseph Ratzinger at Vatican II. His Theological Vision and Role, “Lateranum” 3 (2012), pp. 515–548.

Geiselmann J.R., Die Heilige Schrift und die Tradition. Zu den neueren Kontroversen über das Verhältnis der Heiligen Schrift zu den nichtgeschriebenen Traditionen, Freiburg 1962 (Quaestiones Disputatae, 18).

Levering M., Engaging the Doctrine of Revelation. The Mediation of the Gospel through Church and Scripture, Grand Rapids 2014.

Mansini G., Fundamental Theology, Washington 2018.

Martin F., Revelation and Understanding Scripture. Reflections on the Teaching of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, “Nova et Vetera” English Edition 1 (2015), pp. 253–272.

McCaughey M., Through the Lens of the Pure in Heart: Ratzinger’s Theological Approach and the Interpretation of Revelation, “Annales Theologici” 32 (2018), pp. 113–140.

Moss R., Beyond “Two Source Theory” and “Sola Scriptura.” Ecumenical Perspectives on Scripture and Tradition, “Acta Theologica” 2 (2015), pp. 66–81.

Müller G.L., Tradycja jako zasada katolickiej teologii, “Teologia w Polsce” 2 (2018), pp. 5–17.

Newman J.H., Apologia pro vita sua, transl. P. Gąsiorowski, Warsaw 2009.

Newman J.H., Kingsley C., Newman’s Apologia Pro Vito Sua. The Two Versions of 1864 & 1865, Preceded by Newman’s and Kingsley’s Pamphlets, Oxford 1913.

O’Collins G., Fundamental Theology, New York 1981.

O’Collins G., Inspiration. Towards a Christian Interpretation of Biblical Inspiration, Oxford 2018.

O’Collins G., Rethinking fundamental theology. Toward a New Fundamental Theology, Oxford 2011.

O’Collins G., Revelation. Towards a Christian Interpretation of God’s Self-revelation in Jesus Christ, Oxford 2016.

Pidel A., Christi Opera Proficiunt. Ratzinger’s Neo-Bonaventurian Model of Social Inspiration, “Nova et Vetera” English Edition 3 (2015), pp. 693–711.

Piotrowski M., Dlaczego ufam Kościołowi, Szydłowiec–Krakow 2016.

Pius XII, Encyclical Humani Generis (1950), [in:] Breviarium fidei. Wybór doktrynalnych wypowiedzi Kościoła, S. Głowa, I. Bieda (eds.), Poznań 1998, pp. 42–47.

Pokrywiński R., Pojęcie Objawienia Bożego według Josepha Ratzingera, [in:] Teologia fundamentalna w twórczości Josepha Ratzingera, K. Kauch, J. Mastej (eds.), Lublin 2017, pp. 81–102.

Popowski R., Efapax, [in:] idem, Wielki słownik grecko-polski Nowego Testamentu. Wydanie z pełną lokalizacją greckich haseł, kluczem polsko-greckim oraz indeksem form czasownikowych, Warsaw 1995, pp. 247–248.

Ratzinger J., O nauczaniu II Soboru Watykańskiego. Formułowanie – Przekaz – Interpretacja. Pierwsza część tomu (Opera omnia, VII/1), transl. W. Szymona, Lublin 2016.

Ratzinger J., O nauczaniu II Soboru Watykańskiego. Formułowanie – Przekaz – Interpretacja. Druga część tomu (Opera omnia, VII/2), transl. E. Grzesiuk, Lublin 2016.

Ratzinger J., Rozumienie objawienia i teologia historii według Bonawentury. Rozprawa habilitacyjna i studia nad Bonawenturą (Opera omnia, II), transl. J. Merecki, Lublin 2014.

Ratzinger J., Wiara w Piśmie i Tradycji. Teologiczna nauka o zasadach. Pierwsza część tomu (Opera omnia, IX/1), transl. J. Merecki, Lublin 2018.

Rowland T., Catholic Theology, London–Oxford–New York–New Delhi–Sydney 2017.

Scheffczyk L., Sacred Scripture. God’s Word and the Church’s Word, “Communio” 1 (2001), pp. 26–41.

Schmaus M., Wiara Kościoła, vol. 1: Objawienie – inicjatywa Boża oczekująca odpowiedzi człowieka: wiary, transl. J. Zaremba, Gdańsk-Oliwa 1989.

Seweryniak H., Teologia fundamentalna, vol. 1, Warsaw 2010.

Skierkowski M., Kategoria doświadczenia w teologii Objawienia Geralda O’Collinsa, [in:] Objawienie Boże w interpretacji współczesnych teologów, B. Kochaniewicz (ed.), Poznań 2010, pp. 63–75.

Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei verbum, [in:] ibidem, Konstytucje, dekrety, deklaracje. Tekst polski. Nowe tłumaczenie, Poznań 2002, pp. 350–363.

White T.J., Światło Chrystusa. Wprowadzenie do katolicyzmu, transl. G. Gomola, A. Gomola, Poznań 2019.

Wicks J., Vatican II on Revelation. From Behind the Scenes, “Theological Studies” 71 (2010), pp. 637–650.

Woźniak R.J., Różnica i tajemnica. Objawienie jako teologiczne źródło ludzkiej sobości, Poznań 2012 (ALFA and OMEGA, 29).

Zatwardnicki S., Ani teologia, ani apologia. Geralda O’Collinsa ujęcie natchnienia biblijnego, [in:] Nowa apologia. Czego, wobec kogo i jak bronimy, P. Artemiuk (ed.), Plock 2020, pp. 186–218.

Zatwardnicki S., Relacja Objawienia do Pisma Świętego według Josepha Ratzingera (Benedykta XVI), “Teologia w Polsce” 1 (2014), pp. 99–118.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.