Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1 Overture

1.1 Thinking

1.2 Language

1.3 Love

1.4 Speculative Theology

1.5 A Test Case for an Ecumenical Presentation of a Church

2 What Is the Origin of the Christian Faith?

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Johannine Theology

2.3 The World of the Synoptic Gospels

2.4 Pauline Tradition

2.5 Pre-Pauline Tradition

2.5.1 1 Corinthians 8, 5–6

2.5.2 Philippians 2, 6–11

2.5.3 Colossians 1, 15–20

2.5.4 Hebrews 1, 2b–4

2.5.5 1 Timothy 3, 16

2.6 Summing Up

3 What Is the Raison d’Être of the Ecumenical Councils?

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Two Primary Councils: Nicaea I and Constantinople I

3.3 Four Consequential Councils: Ephesus, Chalcedon, and Constantinople II and III

3.4 The Last Two Councils of the First Millenium: Nicaea II and Constantinople IV

3.5 The Thirteen Councils of the Second Millenium

3.6 Ecumenism: “Orthodox” and “Unorthodox” Love for Christ

4 What Is the Raison d’Être of the Sacraments?

4.1 What Is the Sacrament of the Eucharist?

4.1.1 The Eucharist: The Historical Foundation of Sacramental Theology

4.1.2 The Eucharist Is the Eucharistic Christ

4.1.3 The Eucharist: The Systematic Foundation of Sacramental Theology

4.1.4 The Eucharist and Systematic Theology

4.2 What Is the Sacrament of Marriage?

4.2.1 The Pre-eminence of the Sacrament of Marriage

4.2.2 The Human Mystery of the Sacrament of Marriage

4.2.3 The Christian Reality of the Sacrament of Marriage

4.2.4 The Sacrament of Marriage and Sacramental Theology

4.2.5 The Sacrament of Marriage and Systematic Theology

4.3 What Is the Sacrament of Order?

4.3.1 Introduction

4.3.2 The General Notion of the Priesthood

4.3.3 The Radical Originality of the Christian Priesthood

4.3.4 What the Sacrament of Order Is

4.3.5 The Sacrament of Order and Sacramental Theology

4.3.6 The Sacrament of Order and Systematic Theology

4.4 What Is the Sacrament of Forgiveness?

4.4.1 Introduction

4.4.2 Ways of Forgiving

4.4.3 The Sacramental Reality of Forgiveness

4.4.4 The Sacrament of Forgiveness in the History of the Church

4.4.5 What the Sacrament of Forgiveness Is

4.4.6 The Sacrament of Forgiveness and Sacramental Theology

4.4.7 The Sacrament of Forgiveness and Systematic Theology

4.5 What Is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?

4.5.1 Sickness and Health

4.5.2 The Sick and the Sacrament of the Sick in the History of the Church

4.5.3 The Sacramental Reality of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

4.5.4 What the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick Is

4.5.5 The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Sacramental Theology

4.5.6 The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Systematic Theology

4.6 What Is the Sacrament of Baptism?

4.6.1 Introduction

4.6.2 Baptismal Symbolism

4.6.3 The Sacrament of Baptism in the History of the Church

4.6.4 What the Sacrament of Baptism Is

4.6.5 The Sacrament of Baptism and Sacramental Theology

4.6.6 The Sacrament of Baptism and Systematic Theology

4.7 What Is the Sacrament of Confirmation?

4.7.1 The Sacrament of the Fullness of Grace

4.7.2 The Sacrament of Confirmation in the History of the Church

4.7.3 What the Sacrament of Confirmation Is

4.7.4 The Sacrament of Confirmation and Sacramental Theology

4.7.5 The Sacrament of Confirmation and Systematic Theology

5 Finale and Overture

Appendix: Sacramental Theology’s Contribution to Systematic Theology: A Summary

References

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W