JPI 932
Theology of the Body and the Development of Doctrine: Irenaeus and Newman
The Theology of the Body, as developed by John Paul II in his “Wednesday catecheses,” follows a historical thread, from the beginning of creation to the final resurrection. This development is not accidental: the temporal dimension belongs to the very core of that theology. In order to consider that fact, we will read the work of Irenaeus of Lyon, which moves along the lines of the patient assimilation of the human flesh to the divine Spirit. The temporality of God’s communication in history will then set the foundations for a better understanding of the development of doctrine. The study of Irenaeus, completed with a reading of some works by John H. Newman, will convey to us the most important clues for this task.
