Christology and Metaphysics in the Seventeenth Century

Richard Cross explores the largely uncharted territory of seventeenth-century Christology, paying close attention to its metaphysical and semantic presuppositions and consequences. He shows that theologians of all stripes develop and expand theories that are associated respectively with the medieval theologians Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus. Italian and French Dominicans follow Aquinas closely, read through the lens of Cardinal Cajetan. But most Iberian Dominicans incorporate Suárez's theory of modes into their account, and Suárez, whose account is a modification of Scotus's, is in turn followed by his fellow Jesuits. Lutherans use Cajetan's account to fill explanatory gaps in their own accounts; and Reformed theologians by and large adapt the position associated with Scotus. The study ends with an account of Leibniz's Christology in its historical and conceptual context.

Richard Cross, John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Richard Cross has been John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame since 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.

Introduction: Two theories of the Incarnation
Part 1. A historical framework
1. Union theories
2. Communion theories
3. Modes, distinctions, and theories of predication
Part 2. Union theories in seventeenth-century Christology
4. Union theories in Catholic theology (1): Jesuits and Scotists
5. Union theories in Catholic theology (2): Thomists
6. Union theories in Reformed theology
Part 3. Communion theories in seventeenth century Christology
7. Communion theories in Catholic theology
8. Communion theories in Protestant theology (1): Classical Christology
9. Communion theories in Protestant theology (2): Homo assumptus Christology
Part 4 The communicatio idiomatum
10. The genus idiomaticum
11. The genus maiestaticum (1): A Lutheran extension
12. The genus maiestaticum (2): Ecumenical ventures
Concluding remarks
Appendix. Bellarmine's De controversiis and Leibniz's De persona: some textual parallels