Newman and Justification: Newman's via media 'doctrine of the justifying Presence'

Newman and Justification examines John Henry Newman's via media 'doctrine of the justifying presence' in his Lectures on Justification . T. L. Holtzen contends that Newman put forth his via media doctrine of the justifying presence by employing a trinitarian grammar of divine inhabitation in which the Holy Spirit is the formal cause of justification as a solution to the Reformation debate over justification. Newman sets his via media of justification between the extremes of justification by 'mere imputation' in 'popular Protestantism' and that of justification by works-righteousness in 'English Arminianism' and 'Romanism'. The word 'justification' means both being declared and being made righteous because the eternal Word is spoken into the soul by the Holy Spirit in justification. Newman identifies this with 'the gift of righteousness' (Romans 5:17) and calls it the 'doctrine of the justifying presence'. The justifying presence is an imparted righteousness, in distinction from both the Protestant notion of imputed and Roman Catholic idea of inherent righteousness. The justifying presence comes through the sacraments, creates faith in the human soul, and begins a renewal in good works, all of which in different ways justify. The divine inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in the soul is the formal cause of justification by causing a duplex iustitia of both Christ's imputed righteousness and by beginning an actual righteousness in renewal. Newman's via media 'doctrine of the justifying presence' has great ecumenical promise because it shows how the trinitarian grammar of justification necessarily causes renewal through divine inhabitation. Cover Newman and Justification: Newman’s via media ‘doctrine of the justifying Presence’ Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments Contents Abbreviations Introduction The Shape of the Lectures on Justification The Shape of This Study 1: A Debate Over Justification Meriting Eternal Life Merit in Augustine of Hippo Merit in Thomas Aquinas Merit in the Via Moderna Luther’s Rejection of Merit Luther’s Theology of Justification The Distinction between Justification and Renewal Roman Catholicism on Justification Inherent Righteousness Roman Catholicism and Protestantism The Nature of Justifying Righteousness 2: Newman’s Lectures on Justification Controversy over Justification ‘Popular Protestantism’ and ‘Mere Imputation’ Radical Evangelicalism ‘The Anglican Via Media’ ‘The Catholic System of Doctrine’ A Trinitarian Grammar of Justification 3: Newman’s Via Media of Justification A Via Media Between Two Extremes ‘Popular Protestantism’ Faith in Popular Protestantism Faith in the Lutheran Divines Faith and Works in Luther and Melanchthon ‘Romanism’ Newman’s View of ‘Romanism’ Newman’s Affinity to Romanism Augustine and Luther A False Via Media? 4: The Meaning of the Word ‘Justification’ The Grammar of Justification and Renewal The Question of Moral Law The Relation of Justification to Renewal God’s Declaration of Righteousness Justification Is Distinct from Renewal Justification Causes Renewal Justification as Renewal Christ’s Self-Communication as ‘Righteousness’ Two Meanings of ‘Righteousness’ in Protestantism The Shape of Participation in Newman A Summary of Newman’s Argument 5: ‘The Doctrine of the Justifying Presence’ ‘The Justifying Presence’ The Theology of the Justifying Presence A Supernatural Gift A Crucifying Presence Imparted Righteousness Actual Righteousness as ‘Adherent’ A Losable Presence Justification Old and New The Justifying Mission of the Spirit Recapitulation in Christ 6: Justifying Faith, Sacraments, and Works ‘The Office of Justifying Faith’ Justifying Faith as Instrument and Symbol Faith and the Ordo Salutis ‘The Nature of Justifying Faith’ Fides Apprehensiva The High Church Teaching of Faith Justifying Sacramental Rites and Works ‘Justification by Sacraments’ Justification by ‘Gospel Works’ Faith as Habit (Habitus) Luther Misunderstood? ‘The Remedy of Post-Baptismal Sin’ ‘Legalism’ Preaching Conversion Experience Newman’s Interpretation of the Articles and Homilies 7: The Formal Cause of Justification Aristotelian Causality The Form of the Soul’s Righteousness The Holy Spirit as the Formal Cause A Duplex Iustitia of Imputed and Actual Righteousness Duplex Iustitia in the English Church ‘Proper’ and ‘Improper’ Forms of Justification Newman and The Council of Trent Newman’s Achievement 8: Ecumenical Prospect Newman and the New Perspective The Priority of Uncreated Grace Newman and the Joint Declaration on Justification Trinitarian Theology in the Joint Declaration Forensic Justification Today Points of Agreement and Disagreement Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index