Trinitarian Theology beyond Participation: Augustine's De Trinitate and Contemporary Theology

by Maarten Wisse

Maarten Wisse develops a critique of dominant trends in contemporary theology through a re-reading of Augustine's De Trinitate. Theological topics covered include the thinking about the relationship of between God and World as participation of the finite in the infinite, Christology as a manifestation of this ontology of participation, Trinity as a model for our relational mode of being and deification (theosis) as the purpose of salvation. Key figures are brought in conversation with an Augustinian alternative to these trends, such as Wolfhart Pannenberg, Joseph Ratzinger, Denys Turner, John Milbank, Catherine Pickstock and Graham Ward.

Genres: Theology

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Mats Winther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Wisse’s book doesn’t require much theological knowledge it is somewhat demanding because it revolves mostly around Augustine’s De Trinitate, which is quite a hefty piece.

I am grateful that this book was written, for it reappraises Augustinian theology as fundamentally sound. Critique is directed against misinterpretations of Augustine, such as the view that he was essentially a Platonist. Wisse shows that he flirts with the Platonists of his time by playing with Platonic themes. But he pokes a hole in their metaphysic and theory of salvation and presents the Christian alternative, perfected by Augustine himself.

Augustine stands out as a very sound and original thinker who formulates a theology that is sensible, competent and intellectually convincing. Modern theology is a whole different can of worms. Wisse criticizes deification or theosis as ‟perhaps the hype of twenty-first-century theology”. Per contra, central to Augustine is inner restoration through justification and forgiveness of sins. To achieve true humanity is the purpose of salvation, not our transformation into God. It is precisely the latter intention which constitutes Augustine’s understanding of sin.

Wisse also criticizes the exaggerated shift toward relational theology and ontology. Joseph Ratzinger (the former pope) sees the divinity of Jesus as consisting of a relationship that is defined by ‘being for and from another’. Accordingly, human beings are sanctified if they become full-fledged relational beings. But central to Augustine’s Christology is the moral restoration of the sinner, which entails inner development. He does not circle so much around making God visible in the world, by manifesting godly relations in society. The right relationship to God is a position of obedience to God’s reign.

This book serves as the ideal introduction to De Trinitate and Augustine’s trinitarian theology, which remains highly relevant. It belongs to those books that incite the reader to a repeated study.