Henri de Lubac: An Account of His Theology

Abstract

<p>This thesis gathers together the writings of Henri de Lubac around the theme of revelation. It begins by an analysis of de Lubac 's writings on the Biblical Revelation so as to establish what we consider to be his theological point of departure: God has revealed Hirnse]f in time, i.e., in history and Jesus Christ, and this revelation opens up the depth of nature. This is revelation in the strict sense; the subject of Part One. There is also a self-witness of God in man. This is revelation in the broad sense; the subject of Part Two. The relationship between Part One and Part Two is established on this basis: to understand what de Lubac means by revelation in the broad sense, a prior understanding of what he means by revelation in the strict sense is essential. That is to say, one cannot understand man in his concrete, historical, existential, openness to revelation, as de Lubac thinks him, without a framework of Biblical Religion.</p> <p>This thesis is historical, insofar as it seeks to understand the litetrary career of Henri de Lubac. It is critical, insofar as it seeks to establish a focus within which his work may be unified. Finally, the thesis assesses the work of de Lubac on the fundamental issues connected with revelation, and suggests the meaning of de Lubac's contribution to contemporary Christian thought, especially Roman Catholic theology.</p>