A Theology of the Christian Bible

Denis Farkasfalvy, O.CIST is Research Scholar at the University of Dallas and the author of Inspiration and Interpretation: A Theological Introduction to Sacred Scripture (CUA Press).

"Destined to be recognized as an epochal achievement in the history of modern theology. Farkasfalvy retrieves and develops patristic conceptions of the Incarnational form and Christological telos of scripture, divine condescension, and divine anagogical pedagogy, in a creative synthesis that is deeply traditional in its content and boldly innovative in its formulation. Provides an urgently needed and brilliantly luminous account of how we can reasonably affirm that the canonical scriptures bear the treasure of God's inerrant and efficaciously transformative Word of self-disclosure within the fragility of earthen vessels."--Khaled Anatolios, author of Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine"If you think that developing a post-conciliar theory of biblical inspiration is either of necessity defensive or hermeneutically naive, then you will be surprised at the capaciousness of this remarkable work. Fr. Denis Farkasfalvy, O.Cist., presents sober reflections that reflect a life's labor. Neither exegetes nor systematicians will be able to sidestep the lucid arguments of this slim volume. The connection between Christ's condescension and theories of biblical criticism is sharp, precise, and timely. All future attempts to understand the truth of and in the Bible will need to go through this path."--Peter Casarella, University of Notre Dame "Vatican II's Dei Verbum is the most important Catholic text on the Bible in modern times, yet much of the theological task it places before the church has yet to be fulfilled. In this lucid synthetic account of revelation, inspiration, and canon, Fr. Denis Farkasfalvy shows how Catholic theology and biblical studies can take up neglected demands of Dei Verbum. Fr. Denis was in St. Peter's to hear Pope John XXIII open the Second Vatican Council and served more than a decade on the Pontifical Biblical Commission under John Paul II and Benedict XVI. This is a book only he could have written, a crowning achievement of a life dedicated to biblical scholarship in the service of the church."--Bruce D. Marshall, Southern Methodist University "There is no Catholic theologian better qualified to write a theology of scripture than Abbot Farkasfalvy. Clearly the fruit of a lifetime and study and contemplation, A Theology of the Christian Bible brings together an expert's knowledge of second-century canon formation, a rare familiarity with modern theories of divine authorship both before and after Vatican II, and an insider's perspective on achievements and limitations of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. For its challenge to scholarly consensus on the gradually evolving canon, its personalist recasting of the truth of scripture, and countless other reasons, this book richly rewards its readers."--Aaron Pidel, Marquette University