The Concept of Representation in the Theology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Theological Studies 60 (1999) THE CONCEPT OF REPRESENTATION IN THE THEOLOGY OF HANS URS VON BALTHASAR MICHELE M. SCHUMACHER [The originality and vigor of Balthasars use of the term Stellver tretung—literally "representation" (Vertretung) by taking one's place (Stelle)—lies in his depiction of Christ as the Stellvertrer or representative of the Father. Christ's irrevocable gift of self even unto death, reveals and mediates the Father's love. Such a vision of the Father of mercies is opposed to that of the vengeful deity inevi tably imagined when Balthasar presents Christ as the representative of the human race, one who takes upon himself humanity fs sins and the awful fate that accompanies those sins.] HE CONCEPT Stellvertretung, rendered in English as "representation" by T a majority of translators, holds a prominent place in the soteriology articulated by Hans Urs von Balthasar.1 Balthasare originality was to con ceive of the concept in terms of the Creator-creature relationship, one that he treated both "katalogically" and "analogically." Representation was for him, as Karl-Heinz Menke describes, a bridging concept between the im manent and the economic Trinity, hence between trinitarian theology and the other systematic treatises relating to the theology of creation, Chris- tology/soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. Regrettably this bridge MICHELE M. SCHUMACHER is "collaboratrice scientifique externe" in the depart ment of theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where she obtained the S.T.L. She obtained her S.T.D. from the John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C. She is former director of Family Life and Social Justice for the Diocese of Yakima, Washington, and former adjunct professor for the University of Dallas's Institute of Religious and Pastoral Studies in the Portland, Oregon, Archdiocese.
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