Universal Salvation Eschatology in the

In this book Morwenna Ludlow compares and assesses the arguments for universal salvation put forth by theologians Gregory of Nyssa and Karl Rahner. Ludlow looks at the origins and development of the idea of universal salvation and asks whether it is a 'second tradition' within Christian theology.

Acknowledgements

vii

Abbreviations and Conventions

xii

Introduction

1

(20)

Gregory of Nyssa

Gregory of Nyssa's Eschatology in Context

21

(24)

The Life of Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-95)

21

(1)

Philosophy, Mysticism, and Exegesis

22

(8)

Patristic Eschatology

30

(8)

Apokatasasis-a Note on Terminology

38

(7)

Perfection in Resurrection

45

(32)

Return to Paradise?

46

(18)

Creation and the Fall

46

(4)

Creation in the image of God

50

(6)

Apatheia, desire, and love

56

(8)

Resurrection

64

(9)

Visions of Heaven

73

(4)

Universal Perfection

77

(38)

Evidence for Gregory's Universalism

77

(9)

Direct statements

77

(5)

Evidence from the nature of punishment in Gregory's theology

82

(4)

Gregory's Arguments for Universal Salvation

86

(9)

An argument from the nature of evil

86

(3)

Arguments from the unity of humanity

89

(6)

Universal salvation and Human Freedom

95

(20)

Three starting assumptions

97

(2)

Divine pedagogy

99

(5)

Moral perfection: asceticism and purification

104

(11)

Karl Rahner

The Background to Karl Rahner's Eschatology

115

(15)

The Life of Karl Rahner (1904-1984)

115

(3)

Philosophy and Theology

118

(12)

Eschatology for a Modern World

130

(38)

The Requirements for a Doctrine of Eschatology

131

(5)

The Hermeneutics of Eschatological Assertions

136

(15)

Theology and History

151

(17)

Death and the history of an individual

151

(9)

The consummation of a history of freedom

160

(2)

Profane-history and salvation-history

162

(6)

The Consummation of an Individual History of Freedom

168

(40)

Consummation and Individual Decision

169

(10)

Immanent and transcendent consummation of the individual

169

(4)

The possibility of a negative or a rejected consummation

173

(3)

Unthematic acceptance or denial of God: `anonymous Christianity'

176

(3)

Perfect Fulfilment and Utter Loss

179

(10)

Heaven: the beatific vision

179

(1)

Hell

179

(9)

Problems raised by the notion of an individual consummation

188

(1)

The Possibility of Human Development after Death

189

(19)

Doctrinal definitions

190

(1)

Divine punishment: the doctrine of indulgences

191

(4)

A temporal interim state?

195

(2)

Purgatory

197

(11)

The Consummation of the World's History of Freedom

208

(29)

Consummation as a Collective Phenomenon

209

(6)

Divine Consummation and the Christian task

215

(14)

The nature of the Christian task

215

(6)

The limits of the Christian task

221

(3)

The Christian task fulfilled by God

224

(5)

Resurrection and Parousia

229

(8)

Comparison and Assessment

237

(41)

Will All be Saved?

238

(11)

Gregory of Nyssa's arguments for universal salvation

238

(5)

The grounds for Karl Rahner's attitude towards universal salvation

243

(4)

Hope: between prediction and paradox

247

(2)

How will All be Saved?

249

(8)

This life: philosophia and decision

249

(3)

This life: sunergeia; immanent and transcendent consummation

252

(2)

After death and in death: human freedom and life in God

254

(3)

Conclusions

257

(21)

Similarities: is universal salvation a Christian doctrine?

258

(8)

Differences: the nature and causes of change

266

(4)

Looking to the future

270

(8)

Appendix A: Karl Rahner's Seven Theses for an Eschatological Hermeneutics

278

(1)

Appendix B: Karl Rahner: The Content of Eschatological Assertions

279

(3)

Bibliography

282

(15)

a. Works by Gregory of Nyssa

282

(3)

b. Works

285

(2)

Karl Rahner

c. General bibliography

287

(10)

Index

297

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Universal Salvation Eschatology in the Thought of Gregory of Nyssa and Karl Rahner

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