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Receptive Ecumenism and Justification: Roman Catholic and Reformed Doctrine in Contemporary Context Sarah Timmer Marquette University

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Receptive Ecumenism and Justification: Roman Catholic and Reformed Doctrine in Contemporary Context Sarah Timmer Marquette University Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations (2009 -) Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Projects Receptive Ecumenism And Justification: Roman Catholic And Reformed Doctrine In Contemporary Context Sarah Timmer Marquette University Recommended Citation Timmer, Sarah, "Receptive Ecumenism And Justification: Roman Catholic And Reformed Doctrine In Contemporary Context" (2014). Dissertations (2009 -). Paper 362. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/362 RECEPTIVE ECUMENISM AND JUSTIFICATION: ROMAN CATHOLIC AND REFORMED DOCTRINE IN CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT by Sarah M. Timmer A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 2014 ii ABSTRACT RECEPTIVE ECUMENISM AND JUSTIFICATION: ROMAN CATHOLIC AND REFORMED DOCTRINE IN CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT Sarah M. Timmer Marquette University, 2014 Receptive Ecumenism is a reassessment of the ecumenical process, in light of the remaining challenges and difficulties faced by ecumenists. It recognizes that ecumenism might need to adjust to the complex diversity of the Christian church today, especially amidst a culture that no longer sees diversity as a negative thing. The goal of traditional ecumenism, visible unity through theological and ecclesiological convergence, is put aside in favor of an ecumenism of mutual enrichment and self-examination. The Catholic-Lutheran Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification is an example of traditional ecumenism. This dissertation examines some strengths and weaknesses of the Joint Declaration, and argues for a more Receptive approach to justification in future ecumenical work. The doctrine of justification is a particularly fruitful subject for Receptive Ecumenism because the differences in its articulation reflect deeper foundational differences between Catholics and Protestants. In particular, Catholic soteriology has an ontological setting that emphasizes process and increase of Christ’s applied grace. In contrast, Reformed soteriology is situated in a much different forensic setting that emphasizes the declaration of Christ’s accomplished grace. These are significant differences that say something about the identity and perspective of these traditions, and they require greater definition at the ecumenical table. Receptive Ecumenism takes a much more modest approach to remaining areas of theological and ecclesial difference like justification. It more candidly affirms and appreciates those differences, with the hopeful expectation that because of them, each church may have something to learn from another church. Furthermore, Receptive Ecumenism identifies distinct gifts that each tradition brings to the ecumenical table. This dissertation suggests ways that Catholic and Reformed Christians can helpfully discuss justification in today’s ecumenical milieu. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sarah M. Timmer I wish to thank my husband, Greg, for his unfailing support of me and of this project. You are the love of my life, and I thank God for you. I also wish to thank my parents, Bruce and Jan Vander Laan, whose openness to the Lord, to people, and to life was infectious. Your godly example has been a rock of security for each of your children. Ultimately, I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to do this work. It has been a blessing. If any good comes of it, may it be to his glory: soli Deo gloria. This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Ralph Del Colle. The topic was his idea, and many of the ideas in the finished work were the result of our own ecumenical discussions together. He directed this dissertation until his untimely death in July, 2012. He is my brother in Christ, and we will meet again. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................i CHAPTER I. ECUMENICAL METHODOLOGY AND JUSTIFICATION..........................1 1. The Ecumenical Movement....................................................................1 1.1 The Early Ecumenical Movement and its Goals…..................3 1.2 Methodology of Early Ecumenism: Theological and Ecclesiastical Convergence.............................................................8 1.3 Early Signs of Trouble..............................................................9 1.4 The “Winter” of Ecumenism...................................................15 1.5 Reassessing Ecumenical Goals and Methodology: Receptive Ecumenism....................................................................21 2. Roman Catholic and Reformed Ecumenism..........................................32 2.1 History of Reformed-Catholic Divide.....................................33 2.2 The Reformed Tradition and Ecumenism................................35 2.3 The Roman Catholic Tradition and Ecumenism......................36 2.4 Reformed and Catholic Traditions in Dialogue.......................40 3. Justification in Catholic-Protestant Ecumenism………………………44 II. THE CATHOLIC-LUTHERAN JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION.....……………………………………….…49 1. History and Significance of the Joint Declaration…………………….50 2. Theology of Justification and the Joint Declaration...………………...61 2.1 Justification as Forgiveness and Renewal…………………....64 2.2 Justification and Sin………...………………………………..68 iii 2.3 Justification, Faith, and Grace…………….…………………73 . 2.4 Justification, Merit, and Reward……………………….…….77 3. Substantial Critique at the Heart of the Agreement……………………….…..83 3.1 Catholic Concerns over the Joint Declaration: Anthony Malloy and Avery Dulles……………………………………………………….…….83 3.2 Lutheran Concerns over the Joint Declaration: The Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod………………………………………………..…..90 4. Conclusions……………………………………………………………..……..94 III .THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION...............................................97 1. History of the Catholic Paradigm of Justification.............................................97 1.1 Early Understandings of Justification…………………..……………98 1.2 Thomas Aquinas and the Background of Catholic Soteriology…....107 2. The Catholic Doctrine of Justification……………………………………….115 3. Important Aspects of Justification…………………………………………...119 3.1 Human Sin………………………………………………………….119 3.2 Faith and Assurance….…………………………………………….123 3.3 Grace……………………………………………………….……….127 3.4 Merit……………………………………………………….………..130 3.5 Ecclesiology………………………………………………….……..137 4. Conclusion: The Catholic Doctrine of Justification……………….………..142 iv IV. THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION AND THE REFORMED TRADITION........................................................................................................145 1. History of the Reformed Paradigm of Justification.............................145 1.1 John Calvin............................................................................147 1.2 Calvin and the Saldoleto Debate……………………………148 1.2a Sadoleto’s Letter to the City of Geneva…………..150 1.2.b Calvin’s Reply to Sadoleto……………………….153 1.2.c Conclusion of the Calvin-Sadoleto Debate…….…157 2. Reformed Soteriology and Justification...............................................158 2.1 The Justification-Sanctification Distinction………………..160 2.2 Imputed Righteousness……………………………………..164 3. Important Aspects of Justification……………………………….…..168 3.1 Sin………………………………………………………….168 3.2 Faith………………………………………………………...177 3.3 Grace………………………………………………………..184 3.4 Justification and Eternal Life……………………………….190 3.5 Ecclesiology, the Sacraments, and Justification……………200 4. Summary: The Reformed Tradition and Justification……………...203 V. JUSTIFICATION AND REFORMED-CATHOLIC RECEPTIVE ECUMENISM.....................................................................................................205 1. Receptive Ecumenism..........................................................................206 2. Similarity and Difference on the Doctrine of Justification..................210 2.1 Surprising Similarities...........................................................214 v 2.2 Difficult Differences..............................................................219 3. Gifts Offered in Receptive Ecumenism...............................................224 3.1 Gifts from the Reformed Tradition........................................225 3.2 Gifts from the Catholic Tradition..........................................230 4. Conclusion...........................................................................................236 BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................238 Chapter One: Ecumenical Methodology and Justification 1. The Ecumenical Movement It would be difficult to over-emphasize the importance of the ecumenical movement to the church today, as well as its impact on the church. This is true world- wide, amongst all Christian traditions and virtually all denominations. Ecumenism has simply changed the way we understand what the church is and what it does. Ecumenical conversations have led to mutual affirmations which put to rest the anathemas of the 16th century, as well as opened up new possibilities for combined efforts toward social justice. One significant contemporary example is the 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification1 (JDDJ) in which the Roman Catholic Church and the Worldwide Lutheran Federation reached historic agreement on the issue of justification. In this chapter we will examine the early ecumenical movement and its particular
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