Children of God in the world : an introduction to theological anthropology

"Children of God in the World is a textbook of theological anthropology structured in four parts. The first attempts to clarify the relationship between theology, philosophy and science in their respective approaches to anthropology, and establishes the fundamental principle of the text, stated in Vatican II's Gaudium et spes, n. 22, "Christ manifests man to man". The second part provides a historical overview of the doctrine of grace: in Scripture (especially the teaching of the book of Genesis on humans 'made in the image of God', as well as Paul and John), among the Fathers (in particular the oriental doctrine of 'divinization' and Augustine), during the Middle Ages (especially Thomas Aquinas) and the Reformation period (centered particularly on Luther and the Council of Trent), right up to modern times. The third part of the text, the central one, provides a systematic understanding of Christian grace in terms of the God's life present in human believers by which they become children of God, disciples, friends and brothers of Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit. This section also provides a reflection on the theological virtues (faith, hope and charity), on the relationship between grace and human freedom, on the role of the Church and Christian apostolate in the communication of grace, and on the need humans have for divine grace. After considering the relationship between the natural and the supernatural order, the fourth and last part deals with different philosophical aspects of the human condition, in the light of Christian faith: the union between body and soul, humans as free, historical, social, sexual and working beings. The last chapter concludes with a consideration of the human person, Christianity's greatest and most enduring contribution to human thought." -- Publisher description Contents Principal Abbreviations Introduction Part 1. Methodological Considerations 1. Situating Anthropology among Science, Philosophy, and Theology 2. Historical Perspectives on Humanity in Search of Immortality 3. Jesus Christ, the Redeemer: A Living Perspective for a Christian Anthropology Part 2. The Historical Developmpment of the Doctrine of Grace 4. The Human Being according to Scripture: Image of God and Son of God 5. Grace and Justification of the Sinner in Paul 6. Grace as “Eternal Life” in John 7. Divinizing Grace in the Eastern Patristic Tradition 8. Grace, Sin, and Good Works in Augustine 9. “Created Grace” in the Medieval Period 10. Grace and Justification in Luther and the Council of Trent 11. The Modern Period: Grace, Freedom, and Anthropology Part 3. The Christian Theology of Grace 12. The Historical Working Out of God’s Project to Establish an Intimate and Perpetual Filial Communion of Humans with the Trinity 13. Children of God in the Holy Spirit: The Life of Grace 14. Divine Life in Humans: God's "Inhabitation" of Man's Soul and "Created Grace" 15. Grace and Christian Life: The Infused Virtues and Gifts of the Holy Spirit 16. Grace and Human Freedom: Justification, Merit, Experience, and Mediations 17. The Need for Divine Grace Part 4. Christian Anthropology 18. The Natural and the Supernatural 19. The Human Being: Union of Body and Soul 20. The Gift of God and Human Freedom 21. The Temporality and Historicity of the Human Being 22. Man Created in the Image of God, a Social Being 23. Humans Created in the Image of God as Man and Woman 24. Humans, Made in the Image of God, at Work in the World 25. The Human Person: Christianity's Contribution to Anthropology Selected Bibliography Index of Names General Index