REVELATION: A PROTESTANT VIEW

by Roger & Max Thurian Schutz ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 4, 1968

The concepts of revelation and ecumenicism are inextricably joined together, for it is on the basis of a common revelation that the various Christian Churches found their hope for eventual unity. This explication of a Protestant view of revelation by two well known theologians of the Protestant religious community of Taize is therefore as welcome as it is thoughtful and objective. The book takes the form of a commentary on the conciliar constitution Dei Verbum (on divine revelation). The authors first provide a translation of the text, and then a point-by-point commentary, with particular attention to such ambivalent terms and phrases as ""the tradition that issues from the Apostles,"" ""salutary truth,"" and the controversial ""all Church proclamations must feed on, and be ruled by, Holy Scripture."" Of particular interest and value is their analysis of the equalization of the terms ""Scripture"" and ""Word of God."" The second part of the book is a detailed consideration of the point on which Protestant and Catholic opinion diverges: tradition. They point out that the two Churches differ on what constitutes authentic tradition, and conclude that the text of the constitution does not provide an answer ""that Protestanism can accept as sufficient."" Nonetheless, the authors view the future with a certain optimism based upon the observation that the Council has declared that the Word of God alone is the object of faith, and that the Church is not above it, but ""at its service."" Because of its objectivity and balance, this book will prove to be of importance to the theologians of ecumenism, both Protestant and Catholic.

Pub Date: May 4, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Newman

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION