Wissenschaftliche Beiträge aus dem Tectum Verlag 6 The Trinity as Communio: A model for church collaboration in Nigeria von Hubert Ibe Opara 1. Auflage The Trinity as Communio: A model for church collaboration in Nigeria Opara schnell und portofrei erhältlich bei beck-shop.de DIE FACHBUCHHANDLUNG Thematische Gliederung: Religionssoziologie und -psychologie, Spiritualität Tectum 2011 Verlag C.H. Beck im Internet: www.beck.de ISBN 978 3 8288 2758 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS...vii 1 Introduction...1 1.1 Statement of Problem...1 1.2 Aim and Purpose of Thesis...4 1.3 The Relationship between the models of the Church as family of God adopted at the Synod of the Bishops of Africa in 1994 and the Trinity as communio a model for Church collaboration in Nigeria...5 1.4 Developments in the Research...6 1.4.1 The Trinitarian Structure of the Church...7 1.4.2 Communio Ecclesiology...11 1.4.3 Some Related African Research...14 1.5 Project Specification...19 1.6 Outline...29 2 Contextual Theologies Intercultural Theology...33 2.1 Contextual Theology in General...33 2.1.1 Meaning, Emergence and Principle of Contextual Theology...34 2.1.2 The Relevance of Contextual Theology Today...39 2.1.3 Some Critique of Contextual Theology...43 2.2 Theology in the Different Contexts of the World...45 2.2.1 The Western European Contexts...46 2.2.2 The North American Context...52 2.2.3 The South American Context...54 2.2.4 The Asian Contexts...60 2.2.5 East Asia...65 2.3 The African Context: The Theological Concepts of Integration and Liberation...67 2.3.1 African Theology of Integration...70 2.3.1.1 Origin and Meaning...70 2.3.1.2 Definitions of African Theology...73 vii
viii 2.3.1.3 The Quest for a Method in African Theology...77 2.3.1.4 Issues in African Christian Theology: A Range of Responses...79 2.3.2 African Theology of Integration: its Relevance beyond Africa...91 2.3.2.1 The contributions of African theology of Integration...91 2.3.2.2 Problems in African Theology...92 2.3.3 The Theological Concept of Liberation in Africa: Black Theology in Southern Africa...95 2.3.3.1 The Problem and its Matrix...96 2.3.3.2 The Socio Cultural Analysis of Black Theology in Southern Africa...97 2.3.3.3 Black Theology in Post Apartheid South Africa Prospect for the Future in the New World Order...101 2.3.3.4 A Systematic Evaluation...104 2.3.4 The African Theological Trends of Integration and Liberation: Towards a Paradigmatic and Theological Synthesis...107 2.4 Intercultural Theology/ Intercultural Hermeneutics...109 2.4.1 Intercultural Theology...109 2.4.2 Intercultural Hermeneutics...116 2.4.3 Critique...117 2.5 Towards a Systematic Reflection on Intercultural Theology...120 3 The Doctrine of the Trinity...123 3.1 Introduction...123 3.2 Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of the Trinity...127 3.2.1 The Old Testament Background...127 3.2.1.1 The Theophanies...128 3.2.1.2 God as Wisdom...129 3.2.1.3 The Personification of the Word of God...129 3.2.1.4 The Spirit of God...130 3.2.2 The New Testament Witness to the Doctrine of the Trinity...131 3.2.2.1 The Gospels...132 3.2.2.2 Other New Testament Writings on the Trinity...138
ix 3.2.2.3 The Triadic Pattern in the New Testament...140 3.3 The Historical Development of the Trinitarian Doctrine...142 3.3.1 The Apologists...143 3.3.2 The Contributions of Irenaeus Tertullian and Origin...144 3.3.3 The Trinitarian Problems and the Dogmatic Settlement...147 3.3.4 The Council of Nicaea (325AD)...149 3.3.5 Eastern (Greek) Theology...150 3.3.5.1 Athanasius...151 3.3.5.2 The Cappadocian Fathers and the Theology of Divine Relations...152 3.3.6 Trinitarian Theology in the West (the Latin Church)...158 3.3.6.1 The Contributions of Augustine of Hippo...158 3.3.6.2 Roman Catholic Theology on the Trinity after Augustine to the Contemporary Time...169 3.3.6.3 Karl Rahner...171 3.3.6.4 Hans Urs von Balthasar...179 3.3.6.5 Liberation and other Approaches to the Trinity and the Trinity as Paradigm for Human Community...183 3.3.6.6 Elizabeth Johnson and Catherine Mowry LaCugna...187 3.4 Towards a theological appraisal: A Summary...190 4 Communio Ecclesiology...193 4.1 Communio Ecclesiology...193 4.2 An Orthodox Version of Communio Ecclesiology...194 4.3 A Protestant Version of Communio Ecclesiology...197 4.4 The Ecumenical Efforts and Dimensions of Communio Ecclesiology...198 4.5 The Catholic Version of Communio Ecclesiology...202 4.5.1 Communio A Central Idea in Contemporary Catholic Ecclesiology...202 4.5.2 Historical Antecedent: Johann Adam Möhler (1796 1838)...204 4.5.3 Communio Ecclesiology: Approaches, Versions and Dimensions...211
x 4.5.3.1 Charles Journet (1891-1975)...211 4.5.3.2 Yves Congar (1904-1996)...213 4.5.3.3 Henri de Lubac (1896-1991)...217 4.5.3.4 The Vatican II Document on Communio...223 4.5.3.5 Karl Rahner (1904-1984)...235 4.5.3.6 Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)...237 4.5.3.7 Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI....239 4.5.3.8 Michael and Kenneth Himes...244 4.5.3.9 Hans Küng...245 4.5.3.10 Leonardo Boff...248 4.5.3.11 Elizabeth Johnson...249 4.5.3.12 Roberto Goizueta...250 4.5.3.13 Jean Marie Tillard...251 4.5.3.14 The Extraordinary Synod of Bishops 1985...254 4.5.3.15 The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith...255 4.6 The Church as Communio in Correlation with the Trinity as Communio and as basis for Communio Ecclesiology...257 5 The Contextual Conditions of the Local Church in Nigeria and the Historical, Social, Political, Cultural and Religious Challenges...269 5.1 The African World View and African Traditional Religion and Practices...269 5.1.1 The African World View...270 5.1.2 African Traditional Religion(s) and Practices...274 5.1.2.1 Belief in God...275 5.1.2.2 The Origin of the Entity Nigeria and its Ethnography and Demography...276 5.1.2.3 Kinship, the Individual and Moral Issues...278 5.1.2.4 Political Organization...279 5.1.3 Early Missionary Activities in Nigeria: History and Method...282 5.1.3.1 An Appraisal of the Problem...282
xi 5.1.3.2 The Missionary Ideology and Theologies of Mission of the Early Christian Missions to Nigeria...284 5.1.3.3 Historical Backgrounds to Missionary Efforts in Nigeria...285 5.1.3.4 The Missionary Approach and Methods by the Early Missionaries in Nigeria...286 5.1.3.5 A Brief Historical Summary of the 15thc and 19thc Catholic Missionary Activities in Nigeria...289 5.1.4 The Nigerian Society and People Today...291 5.1.4.1 A Description of the Contemporary Nigerian Society and Peoples: It s Socio-Political and Economic Challenges...291 5.2 The Church in Nigeria Today: Its Model and Present Realities...292 5.2.1 Church in Nigeria: Model and Paradigm...293 5.2.2 The Church in Nigeria and the Issues of Authority Ministry and Charism...294 5.2.3 The Social Question and the Church...303 5.2.3.1 The Issues of Equity Justice and Peace...306 5.2.3.2 Gender Issues...307 5.2.4 The Response of the Church in Nigeria to the Challenges Capitulated...310 6 The Trinity as Communio as a model for the Organisation of Church and Society in Nigeria and its Implication for Collaboration...315 6.1 Acknowledging and re-evaluating traditional African religion, customs, values and social institutions...315 6.1.1 God: the Transcendence and the Sacred...317 6.1.2 The African Notions of the Person, family, community and communion...319 6.2 Transforming and Synthesizing Traditional African Values Customs and Institutions with Christian Values and Modern Institutions...322 6.3 The Synod of the Church in Africa (Ecclesia in Africa), its Meaning, Implications and Challenges...325 6.3.1 Meaning of the Model...325 6.3.2 Implications of the Church as Family...327
xii 6.3.3 Challenges Arising from the Church as Family...327 6.3.4 Some Theological Reflections on the Model of the Church-Family in Ecclesia in Africa...328 6.4 Arguments for an Additional Model of Church and a Shift in the Ecclesiological Paradigm in Nigeria...331 6.4.1 An Evaluation of the Church s Self Understanding in Nigeria in the Exercise of Ministry Authority and Charisms...331 6.4.2 The Trinitarian Communio: A Model for Church Collaboration in Nigeria...335 6.4.3 An Invitation to change in the traditional Paradigm and structures of Church and Society and a Challenge to Transformation...337 6.4.4 An Invitation to a new Concept of Church and Society in Nigeria...338 6.5 Recommendations and Conclusion...338 6.5.1 Recommendations...338 6.5.2 An invitation to Reconciliation...339 6.5.3 The Need for Dialogue...339 6.5.4 The Need for Formation...340 6.5.5 Witnessing to Christ as African and as Holistic and Integrated Christians...341 6.5.6 Persons in Communion and Churches in Collaboration...341 6.5.7 Paradigm Shift from a Church of Authority to a Church of communion...342 6.5.8 A Pro-active Church...342 6.5.9 Conclusion...343 Bibliography....345