Abstract:
This Final Work aims to develop the concept of unity of nature and grace from two theologians of different christian traditions: Herman Bavinck, representing Dutch neocalvinism and Henri de Lubac, representing the nouvelle théologie. Nature and grace comprise a theological theme of significant scope within Church history, tracing the theological outlines since the medieval period. Neocalvinism and nouvelle théologie, from different historical-philosophical backgrounds, offer a relationship of unity between the natural and supernatural binomial, opening up possibilities for rapprochement and ecumenical dialogue. The Aristotelian Thomism and neo-Thomism are criticized by Bavinck and Henri de Lubac as being primarily responsible for treating nature and grace as watertight, separate dimensions, hermetically sealed together, making room for secularism and the rupture between common and religious life. In the first part, this work is dedicated to the tradition of Dutch neocalvinism, with emphasis on Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck and Francis Schaeffer – Bavinck being the main author of this chapter. In the beginning of Colossians, the apostle Paul emphasizes the centrality of Jesus both in creation and in redemption, connecting the two poles and showing the absolute government of the only begotten son of God. Based on this biblical-theological emphasis on the lordship of Christ, the aim is to relate several themes to the central unity of nature and grace: spheres of sovereignty, anthropology, special and common grace, sin, creation and redemption. In the second part, this work moves to another tradition, nouvelle théologie, where Henri de Lubac develops several themes in relation to unity: criticism of the Thomist hierarchical system between natural and spiritual, anthropology, criticism of the category of pure nature through the desiderium naturale, recovery of pre-modern ontological-sacramental sensibility and ecclesiological and liturgical-sacramental understandings. The ultimate objective presupposes the importance of the Church’s catholicity and, therefore, has the practical purpose of exploring the ecumenical approaches between Protestantism and Catholicism, reformational tradition and nouvelle théologie.
