Luận án về biến đổi con người qua thần học của Barth, Ratzinger và Zizioulas

OUR BEING IS IN BECOMING THE NATURE OF HUMAN TRANSFORMATION IN THE THEOLOGY OF KARL BARTH, JOSEPH RATZINGER, AND JOHN ZIZIOULAS Luke Ben Tallon A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2011 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.net/10023/2572 This item is protected by original copyright This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS ST MARY’S COLLEGE š OUR BEING IS IN BECOMING THE NATURE OF HUMAN TRANSFORMATION IN THE THEOLOGY OF KARL BARTH, JOSEPH RATZINGER, AND JOHN ZIZIOULAS A THESIS SUBMITTED BY LUKE BEN TALLON TO THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND February 2011 Candidate’s declarations: I, Luke Ben Tallon, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 80,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in August, 2005 and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in August 2006; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2005 and 2011. I, Luke Ben Tallon, received assistance in the writing of this thesis in respect of proof- reading for typographical errors, which was provided by Holly Anne Tallon. Date 10 Feb 2011 signature of candidate 2.

Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date __________ signature of supervisor 3. Permission for electronic publication: In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and the abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use unless exempt by award of an embargo as requested below, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis.

We have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration, or have requested the appropriate embargo below. The following is an agreed request by candidate and supervisor regarding the electronic publication of this thesis: Access to all of printed copy but embargo of all of electronic publication of thesis for a period of 5 years on the ground that publication would preclude future publication. Date 10 Feb 2011 signature of candidate signature of supervisor iv ABSTRACT This study offers an ecumenical exploration of human transformation through the examination of this topic in the thought of Karl Barth (1888-1968), a Swiss Reformed theologian; Joseph Ratzinger (b. 1927), a Roman Catholic theologian; and John Zizioulas (b.

1931), a Greek Orthodox theologian. Describing and understanding human transformation stands as a crucial task for theology because no one is simply born a Christian—in order to be a Christian one must become a Christian. The first chapter introduces this topic, the three theologians (highlighting their commonalities), and the three questions that guide the analysis of each theologian and the thesis as a whole: What is the goal of human transformation? What is the basis of human transformation? How are humans transformed? Chapters 2, 3, and 4 treat the topic of human transformation in the theology of Barth, Ratzinger, and Zizioulas, respectively. All three understand the goal of human transformation to be the prayer of the children of God, and locate its basis in God’s reconciling act in Jesus Christ—an act itself based in the primordial divine decision to be God pro nobis.

Even within this broad agreement, however, differences are evident, especially with regard to eschatology. Consideration of how this transformation occurs reveals significant differences concerning the agency of Jesus Christ in relation to the Holy Spirit and the church. The final chapter explores 1) the convergences and divergences between Barth, Ratzinger, and Zizioulas regarding human transformation; 2) the contributions of this study to the interpretation of Barth, Ratzinger, and Zizioulas; and 3) the relationship between human transformation and participation in God. Throughout, attention is given to the relationship between Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, the eschaton, and the triunity of God and human transformation.

All three accounts of human transformation point beyond the transition between sinful and redeemed humanity to a dynamic anthropology in which the constant asking, receiving, thanking, and asking again is the very “ontological location” of the eschatological life of humanity: our being is in becoming. v vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My work would not have been possible without the support of my family. Holly, my true helpmate, has been gracious beyond measure as we moved and sacrificed because of this PhD. My dear children Isaiah and Noelle energetically urged me on with their smiles, questions, and cries of “Knock it out!” as I worked on this project.

My parents, Jack and Roxanne Tallon, have provided living Christian catechesis, as well as cultivating my love of learning and facilitating my education at crucial junctures. Phil and Sara Sykora have been model in-laws—even during the months my family unexpectedly took up residence with them and I typed away morosely in their basement. Cass and Alex Huffman, as well as Shannon and David Burcham, have cheered me on as brothers and sisters in Christ. In many large and small ways, my work bears the imprint of the Christian communities that formed me before and during my PhD research.

Thanks are due to the Eastside Church of Christ for their care during my childhood, the Malibu Church of Christ for their commitment to serving a transient student population, the “wee” St Andrews Free Church for their openness to my family as strangers in a strange land, the Littleton Church of Christ in Colorado for their steadfast prayers, and the Church Village Church of Christ in Barbados for reminding me of the joyousness of life in Christ during the last steps of the PhD process. Along the way, I have been blessed with intelligent, perceptive, and personally engaging colleagues who contributed to my education in areas far beyond the limited scope of this thesis. My advisor, Alan Torrance, has suffered immensely during the last five years, yet his enthusiasm for this project and willingness to see it through never flagged. Special thanks are due to Cliff Barbarick, a friend who is closer than a brother and who has shared my journey from its earliest days, Kelly Liebengood, Aaron Kuecker, Kevin Diller, Daniel Driver, Jeremy Gabrielson, Amber and Paul Warhurst, RJ Matava, Josh Moon, Matt Ford, Jason Goroncy, Jeff Tipner, Meg Ramey, Tim Stone, Stephen Presley, Matt Farlow, Andrew Torrance, Drew Lewis, Ivan and Julie Khovacs, Reno Lauro, Bruce Baker, Theng-Huat Leow, Seth Tarrer, Ian Church, Mariam Kamell, Darren Schmidt and Andy McCoy—though I am also indebted to many more faculty, staff, students and family members from the St Mary’s community.

Thanks are also due to my students at Pepperdine University, the University of St Andrews, and Codrington College, whose determined search for understanding pressed me towards a more expansive, deep, and clear theological understanding. I also am extremely grateful to the Principal of Codrington College, the Rev. Ian Rock, who was willing to take me on without a PhD in hand and has continued to demonstrate confidence despite several delays. The Benedictine community at Pluscarden Abbey in Moray, Scotland, provided hospitality and quiet at crucial junctures in this project.

Finally, my debt to my elementary school teachers has crossed my mind regularly during my PhD studies; for teaching me the fundamentals of reading and writing, I thank Mrs. Randolf, and Mrs. vii viii DEDICATION To Holly Anne, whose loving work of prayer encouraged me when I did not love my work on prayer. “Nothing is as beautiful as when she believes.” - Ben Harper, Diamonds on the Inside, Virgin Records, 2003 ix x T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Abbreviations xiii Chapter 1: Introduction What does it mean tobe a Christian? 1 I.

Karl Barth: An Idiosyncratic Answer? 2 II. Joseph Ratzinger: A Roman Catholic Answer 5 III. John Zizioulas: A Greek Orthodox Answer 8 Chapter 2: Karl Barth Calling on God: Our Being is in Becoming Pray-ers 11 I. Invocation, Ethics, and Covenant 13 I.

Invocation: Calling on God 13 I. The Task of Ethics: Lessons in the Art of Invocation 17 I. Salvation: Fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant (the Basis of Salvation) 20 I. Invocation: Being-Reconciled-in-Action 25 II.

Covenant Partners: God, Humanity, and the God-Human, Jesus Christ 26 II. Jesus Christ—Very God: The Reconciling God 28 II. Jesus Christ—Very Human: God’s Reconciled Covenant Partner 33 II. Jesus Christ—True God-Human Mediator: The Guarantor and Witness of the Reconciled Covenant 40 III.

Baptism: An Event of Divine Change and Human Prayer, Not a Sacrament 46 III. Spirit Baptism: God’s Foundation of the Christian Life 49 III. Water Baptism: The Human Act at the Foundation of the Christian Life 56 IV. Conclusion: Our Being is in Calling on God 69 Chapter 3: Joseph Ratzinger Becoming Eucharistia: Receiving Ourselves Through Dialogue in Communion 75 I.

The Question of Death and the Answer in Jesus Christ 77 I. Death: Primordial Fruit of Sin and Whence of Human Transformation 77 I. True Life: The Answer to Death in the Person of Jesus Christ 80 II. The Life of God and Human Life 88 II.

The Triune Life of God 91 II. Human Life: Jesus Christ 96 II. Church, Sacraments, Liturgy: Our Life in Christ and Christ’s Life in Us 103 III. Metanoia: Reception, Response, Conversion 114 III.

Baptism into Death 117 III. Baptism into Life 119 III. The Baptismal Ethic 120 IV. The Basis of the Eucharist in Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice 123 IV.

Communio: Eucharist and Church 127 IV. The Eucharistic Vocation 133 V. Conclusion: Our Being is in Becoming Eucharistia 135 xi Chapter 4: John Zizioulas Becoming Ecclesial Persons: Eucharistic Transformation from Death to Life in Communion 141 I. Human Transformation from Death to Life in Jesus Christ 142 I.

Death: The End of Creation in se 143 I. Does Zizioulas Collapse Creation and Fall? 145 I. Jesus Christ is Salvation 148 I. Jesus Christ’s Recapitulation of Creation 150 II.

Becoming Ecclesial Persons in Baptism 153 II. Baptism as Death and New Birth 153 II. Christian Existence in Faith 156 II. Becoming Like God: Baptism and the Doctrine of the Trinity 159 II.

The End of the imagoDei: The Coincidence of Freedom and Love 163 II. Baptism as Ordination to Life in the Body of Christ 168 III. Receiving Life in the Eucharist 169 III. The Eucharist is Life 170 III.

Ecclesial Communion and Otherness 171 III. The Bishop, Structure of the Eucharist 173 III. The Eucharist as Presence of Christ—the spiritually catholic person 176 IV. Eucharistic Persons: Persons Becoming 181 IV.

The Eucharistic Vocation 181 IV. Eschatological Ontology: Shadows of Things to Come 184 V. Conclusion: Our Being is in Becoming Ecclesial Persons 187 Chapter 5: Conclusion Human Transformation: Our Being is in Becoming 191 I. The Convergences and Divergences Between Barth, Ratzinger, and Zizioulas Regarding Human Transformation 191 I.

The Prayer of the Children of God as the Goal of Human Transformation 192 I. Human Transformation’s Trinitarian Basis: God’s Being is in Becoming 196 I. Christ, Spirit, and Church: How Humans are Transformed 199 II.