Theological Tractates

by Peterson, Erik; Hollerich, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780804769686
• ISBN10: 0804769680
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-05
• Publisher: Stanford Univ Pr

Summary

The essays in Theological Tractateswere published between 1925 and 1937, during which time Erik Peterson converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism. They deal with a range of theological topics--from the thought of Protestant theologian Karl Barth, to liturgy, the Church in the New Testament, Christianity and Judaism, angels, martyrdom, and mysticism. Among them is Peterson's landmark essay on ancient "political theology," "Monotheism as a Political Problem," which shows how ancient writers--pagans, Jews, and Christians--justified earthly monarchy by its parallel with the monotheistic belief in one divinity in heaven. Peterson asserted that such a political theology was incompatible with Christianity, a thesis that became a reference point for modern political theology.

Author Biography

Erik Peterson (1890-1960) was a German theologian, scholar of early Christianity, and friend and colleague of Karl Barth and Carl Schmitt. Michael J. Hollerich is Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas. He is the author of Eusebius of Caesarea's Commentary on Isaiah: Christian Exegesis in the Age of Constantine (1999).

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xi
List of Abbreviations	p. xxxi
What Is Theology?	p. 1
Correspondence with Adolf von Harnack and an Epilogue	p. 15
The Church	p. 30
The Church from Jews and Gentiles	p. 40
Monotheism as a Political Problem: A Contribution to the History of Political Theology in the Roman Empire	p. 68
The Book on the Angels: Their Place and Meaning in the Liturgy	p. 106
Christ as Imperator	p. 143
Witness to the Truth	p. 151
Notes	p. 183
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