Nature and Grace: A New Approach to Thomistic Ressourcement

by Andrew Dean Swafford, Edward T S J Oakes (Foreword by)

Overview

Conventional wisdom has it that thinking on nature and grace among Catholic intellectuals was severely clouded by the work of Cajetan and his fellow Thomistic commentators from about the sixteenth century to the eve of Vatican II. Henri de Lubac has rightly been given credit for pointing this out; and to all appearances, de Lubac's influence won the day, as can be seen by the imprint of his thought upon not just the Second Vatican Council, but also the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. However, in recent years, a new crop of Thomistic scholars has arisen who question whether de Lubac's word on nature and grace should be the last; hence, the debate over the nature-grace relation, so heated at mid-twentieth century, has been stirred once again. Dr. Swafford here offers a ""third way"" by way of the nineteenth-century German theologian Matthias J. Scheeben--who, for some reason, has never really been considered especially relevant to this debate. Swafford shows that Scheeben can capture the very best of both sides, while at the same time avoiding the characteristic pitfalls so often alleged against each.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625644244
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	06/25/2014
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Andrew Swafford earned his doctorate in Sacred Theology in May of 2012, graduating summa cum laude from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. In addition, Andrew holds an MA in Old Testament & Semitic Languages from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he graduated summa cum laude in May of 2009. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he regularly teaches courses on the Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, as well as on the Synoptic Gospels. Swafford has also taught courses in Benedictine's Philosophy Department on Ethics, Logic, and Philosophy of Nature. Among his publications are Nature and Grace: A New Approach to Thomistic Ressourcement (Pickwick, 2014); 30-Second Bible (2013); as well as his conversion story in I Choose God (2007). He is also a contributing author to the forthcoming Divinization and Liturgy: A Guide to a Neglected Catholic Theology (2015). Swafford is a Senior Fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He and his wife Sarah reside in Atchison, KS with their three children, Thomas, Fulton, and Cate.

Table of Contents

Foreword Edward T. Oakes, SJ ix

Preface xiii

1 Introduction 1

Part 1 Henri de Lubac

2 De Lubac on Nature and Grace: The Historical and Theological Context 25

3 Foundations for Nature and Grace 67

Part 2 The Contemporary Resurgence of the Pure-Nature Tradition

4 Lawrence Feingold and the Defense of the Pure-Nature Tradition 87

5 Steven A. Long on Natural and Eternal Law 117

Part 3 The Reconciliation of Extrinsicism and Intrinsicism in Matthias Joseph Scheeben

6 Matthias J. Scheeben on the Relationship of Nature and Grace 143

7 Conclusion 195

Bibliography 199

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Dr. Swafford's book is highly welcome as the Catholic Church celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Henri de Lubac had been a noted peritus during that council. His understanding of the nature-grace relationship informed the final form of significant conciliar documents. Swafford ably develops the parameters within which the nature-grace discussion has evolved, giving particular attention to the contemporary contributions of Lawrence Feingold and Steven Long. Using primary sources, he convincingly demonstrates how the much-celebrated but now almost forgotten theologian Matthias Scheeben offers a solution to this problem."
—Emery de Gaal, University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL

"This is more than a book: it's a milestone in Catholic intellectual history."
—Scott W. Hahn, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH

"Professor Swafford argues that the christological, nuptial, and incarnational emphases of de Lubac and his school need not be opposed to the traditional Thomistic approach to nature and grace. In fact, in the work of Matthias Scheeben, he finds precisely both emphases in profound integration. If, as I hope, the eventual fruit of this book is the translation and publication of Scheeben's Dogmatics, then this book will indeed mark a new beginning in English-speaking Catholic theology."
—Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, IL

Editorial Reviews

"The argument that scholasticism and nouvelle theologie are not as far apart as is typically supposed is persuasive."-David Grumett, Modern Believing, Vol.57, Issue 1, January 2016"Swafford's work is a valuable contribution to the continued discussion on nature and grace. The author certainly accomplishes his modest goal of bringing the thought of Matthias Scheeben into the discussion while at the same time providing an excellent primer on the issues that have defined the debate. As such, Nature and Grace is a vital addition to any research library serving graduate students and faculty in the areas of Systematic and Historical Theology."-Eric Lafferty, Theological Book Review, Vol. 27 No.1, 2016

From the Publisher

This volume would have been well-worn and dog-eared if it had been available during my graduate studies, and will be invaluable to students of twentieth-century theology.

Vol. 3 Iss. 3, 2016 - Matthew Shadle

The argument that scholasticism and nouvelle theologie are not as far apart as is typically supposed is persuasive.

Vol.57, Issue 1, January 2016 - David Grumett

This is a fascinating study of the cultural fashions that have influenced approaches to the nature/grace relationship.

Vol. 56 Iss. 6, November 2015 - Patrick Madigan