Introduction To Christianity

by Ratzinger, Joseph Cardinal

• ISBN13: 9781586170295
• ISBN10: 1586170295
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-30
• Publisher: INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP

Summary

"In this elucidation of the Apostles' Creed, Joseph Ratzinger gives a modern interpretation of the foundations of Christianity. This treatment of Christianity's basic truths combines a spiritual outlook with a deep knowledge of Scripture and the history of theology. a solid and contemporary discussion of the fundamental Christian mysteries."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) is recognized as one of the most brilliant theologians and spiritual leaders of our age. As pope he authored the best-selling Jesus of Nazareth. Prior to his pontificate, he wrote many influential books important for the contemporary Church, such as  Introduction to Christianity and The Spirit of the Liturgy.

Table of Contents

PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION	11	(20)
PREFACE TO THE 1968 EDITION	31	(4)
PREFACE TO THE 1969 EDITION	35	(4)
INTRODUCTION: "I BELIEVE-AMEN"
I. BELIEF IN THE WORLD OF TODAY	39	(43)
1. Doubt and belief-Man's situation before the question of God	39	(8)
2. The origin of belief Provisional attempt at a definition of belief	47	(5)
3. The dilemma of belief in the world of today	52	(5)
4. The boundary of the modern understanding of reality and the place of belief	57	(12)
5. Faith as standing firm and understanding	69	(5)
6. The rationality of faith	74	(5)
7. "I believe in you"	79	(3)
II. THE ECCLESIASTICAL FORM OF FAITH	82	(21)
1. Introductory remarks on the history and structure of the Apostles' Creed	82	(3)
2. Limits and meaning of the text	85	(2)
3. Creed and dogma	87	(3)
4. The Creed as expression of the structure of faith	90	(13)
PART ONE: GOD
I. PROLEGOMENA TO THE SUBJECT OF GOD	103	(13)
1. The scope of the question	103	(13)
2. The profession of faith in the one God 110
II. THE BIBLICAL BELIEF IN GOD	116	(21)
1. The problem of the story of the burning bush	116	(6)
2. The intrinsic assumption of the belief in Yahweh: The God of [Israel's] fathers	122	(4)
3. Yahweh, the "God of our Fathers" and the God of Jesus Christ	126	(7)
4. The idea of the name	133	(2)
5. The two sides of the biblical concept of God	135	(2)
III. THE GOD OF FAITH AND THE GOD OF THE PHILOSOPHERS	137	(14)
1. The decision of the early Church in favor of philosophy	137	(6)
2. The transformation of the God of the philosophers	143	(5)
3. The reflection of the question in the text of the Creed	148	(3)
IV. FAITH IN GOD TODAY	151	(11)
1. The primacy of the logos	151	(7)
2. The personal God	158	(4)
V. BELIEF IN THE TRIUNE GOD	162	(31)
1. A start at understanding	163	(15)
2. Positive significance	178	(15)
PART TWO: JESUS CHRIST
I. "I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"	193	(50)
A. THE PROBLEM OF FAITH IN JESUS TODAY	193	(3)
B. JESUS THE CHRIST: THE BASIC FORM OF THE CHRISTOLOGICAL PROFESSION OF FAITH	196	(14)
1. The dilemma of modern theology: Jesus or Christ?	196	(6)
2. The Creed's image of Christ	202	(3)
3. The point of departure of faith in Jesus: The Cross	205	(2)
4. Jesus the Christ	207	(3)
C. JESUS CHRIST-TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN	210	(18)
1. The formulation of the question	210	(2)
2. A modern stock idea of the "historical Jesus"	212	(3)
3. The claim of christological dogma	215	(13)
D. THE DIFFERENT PATHS TAKEN BY CHRISTOLOGY	228	(43)
1. Theology of the Incarnation and theology of the Cross	228	(2)
2. Christology and the doctrine of redemption	230	(4)
3. Christ, "the last man"	234	(9)
EXCURSUS: CHRISTIAN STRUCTURES	243	(28)
II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH IN CHRIST IN THE CHRISTOLOGICAL ARTICLES OF THE CREED	271	(60)
1. "Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary"	271	(10)
2. "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried"	281	(12)
3. "Descended into hell"	293	(8)
4. "Rose again [from the dead]"	301	(9)
5. "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father"	310	(8)
6. "He will come again to judge the living and the dead"	318	(13)
PART THREE: THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH
I. THE INTRINSIC UNITY OF THE LAST STATEMENTS IN THE CREED	331	(7)
II. TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS POSED BY THE ARTICLES ON THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH	338	(23)
1. "The holy, catholic Church"	338	(9)
2. "The resurrection of the body"	347	(14)
GENERAL INDEX	361	(16)
SCRIPTURE INDEX	377