THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA The Trinitarian Theology of John Henry Newman‘s Parochial and Plain Sermons: 1833-1843 A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Theology of Religious Studies Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy © Copyright All Rights Reserved Vinh Bao Luu-Quang Washington, D.C. 2010 The Trinitarian Theology of John Henry Newman‘s Parochial and Plain Sermons: 1833-1843 Vinh Bao Luu-Quang, Ph.D. Director: John T. Ford, S.T.D. John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) is well known for his Parochial and Plains Sermons, which were delivered between 1828 and 1843; these sermons have usually been treated as resources for spirituality, while their theological content has rarely been analyzed, even though these sermons have a noteworthy theological basis. In particular, although Newman never wrote a treatise specifically discussing the Trinity, he frequently preached on the Trinity during his Anglican years in a way that was scriptural, theological, and pastoral. Newman was also one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, which was launched in order to promote the renewal of the Church of England and so ―withstand the Liberalism of the day.‖ During the decade of Newman‘s involvement in the Oxford Movement (1833-43), when Tractarian theology seemed to be gaining widespread acceptance among Anglicans, Newman‘s first principle was dogma and the defense of ―fundamental doctrines‖— particularly the doctrine of the Trinity. This dissertation examines Newman‘s Trinitarian theology in his Parochial and Plain Sermons during the first decade of the Oxford Movement (1833 to 1843) in relation to his personal theological development. His Trinitarian sermons are treated in chronological order according to the three periods (1833-34; 1835-38; 1839-43) of his involvement in the Oxford Movement. This dissertation provides a detailed examination of his treatment of both the Trinity as a whole and the divine Persons in particular. In addition, this dissertation shows a dialectic between Newman‘s Trinitarian theology and his experience in the Oxford Movement, as evidenced in his Letters and Diaries and other published works. Finally, this dissertation shows that Newman‘s Trinitarian sermons not only extensively employed biblical theology and patristic thought, but also were an integral part of Newman‘s repudiation of ―the Liberalism of the day.‖ In sum, this dissertation provides a systematic chronological view of Newman‘s Trinitarian theology during his years as a leader of the Oxford Movement, as well as a better understanding of the importance of Tractarian theology in the Oxford Movement‘s attempted renewal of the Church of England. This dissertation by Vinh Bao Luu-Quang fulfills the dissertation requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theology and is approved by John T. Ford, S.T.D., Director, and Paul McPartlan, D. Phil., and William P. Loewe, Ph.D., readers. ______________________________________ John T. Ford, S.T.D., Director ______________________________________ Paul McPartlan, D. Phil., Reader ______________________________________ William P. Loewe, Ph.D., Reader ii CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER I: NEWMAN: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF HIS ANGLICAN YEARS (1801-1845) 1. ―First Conversion‖ . 8 2. Student Years at Oxford . 11 3. Fellow of Oriel . 15 4. Preacher at Saint Mary‘s . 21 5. The Oxford Movement . 28 6. Tract Ninety and the Conversion . 35 Preview . 44 CHAPTER II: THE FIRST PERIOD: 1833 – 1834 - THE IMMANENT LIFE OF THE HOLY TRINITY AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION I. From 1829 to 1833 1. The Mystery of the Holy Trinity and Knowledge through Grace . 47 2. The Immanent Life of the Holy Trinity . 52 II. From 1833 to 1834 1. Against Rationalism – Faith in the Holy Trinity . 65 iii 2. A Pneumatological Introduction to the Economy of Salvation . 72 3. A Christological Introduction to the Economy of Salvation . 83 Conclusion . 101 CHAPTER III: THE SECOND PERIOD: 1835 – 1838 THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION I. From 1835 to 1836 1. The Incarnation and the Atonement in the Gracious Economy. 104 2. The Passion – Theology of Glorification . 119 3 A Defense of the Humanity and Divinity of Christ . 132 4. The Economic Trinity is the Immanent Trinity. 138 5. The Eucharist – The Sacrament of Glory . 144 II. From 1837 to 1838 1. ―His Spirit‖ in the Church – Communion and Governing Soul . 151 2. The Visible and Invisible Church and the Salvation of the World . 156 3. Economic Anthropology – From ―State of Nature‖ to ―State of Salvation‖ . 165 Conclusion . 175 iv CHAPTER IV: THE THIRD PERIOD: 1839 – 1843 A TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY OF ―REST AND PEACE‖ I. From 1839 to 1840 1. Incarnation and Sanctification – A Theology of Within-ness . 180 2. Deification – Partakers of God‘s Rest and Peace . 191 3. God and the Soul . 195 4. Was Newman a Mystic? . 200 II. From 1841 to 1843 The Cross – Peace and Love . 208 Conclusion . 215 CHAPTER V: THE CONTEXT OF NEWMAN‘S TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY IN THE PAROCHIAL AND PLAIN SERMONS: 1833 – 1843 I. The First Period: From 1833 to 1834 . 227 1. The Birth of the Oxford Movement . 228 2. The Context of Newman‘s Trinitarian Theology in the First Period . 233 II. The Second Period: From 1835 to 1838 . 256 1. Years 1835 and 1836 . 256 a. Gilbert Burnet and John Tillotson . 258 b. Renn Dickson Hampden and Blanco White . 264 v c. Newman‘s Trinitarian Theology as a Response to Liberalism . 269 2. Years 1837 and 1838. 278 a. Rationalism – Anti-Doctrines or Anti-Creeds in the Church of England . 278 b. Calvinism and Evangelicalism – Invisible and Visible Church . 285 III. The Third Period: From 1839 to 1843 . 299 1. Justification and Sanctification . 299 2. Journey to the Roman Catholic Church . 314 Conclusion . 324 CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSION: NEWMAN‘S TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY IN HIS PAROCHIAL AND PLAIN SERMONS: 1833-1843 1. An Overview of Newman‘s Trinitarian Theology . 328 2. Newman‘s Methodology and Terminology . 342 3. Newman and Modern Trinitarian Theology . 353 4. Newman and Ecumenical Dialogue . 363 5. Contribution of the Study . 374 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 378 vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank many people without whose assistance, support and prayer this dissertation would not have been completed. First of all, I am most indebted to the guidance of Rev. John T. Ford, S.T.D., my director, who has spent considerable time in helping me from the very first stage of this dissertation to its completion. I am deeply grateful for everything he has done for me. I would also like to express my profound gratitude to my two readers, Msgr. Paul McPartlan, D. Phil. and Dr. William P. Loewe, Ph.D., whose wide knowledge of the subject matter and many beneficial suggestions have helped me to produce a more careful study of Newman‘s Trinitarian theology. In addition, I am indebted to the National Institute for Newman Studies, particularly Rev. Drew Morgan, the director of the Institute, Mr. Damon G. McGraw, Mr. Monty Crivella and Ms. Jan Grice. Their assistance, support, and generosity, during my fellowship at the Institute in the summer of 2009, have proved a tremendous asset to my research. I also want to express my sincerest thanks to the Baltimore Province of the Redemptorists, especially Very Rev. Patrick Woods, the Provincial, and the former Provincials Very Rev. George Keaveney and Very Rev. Kevin Moley, and the rectors and confrères with whom I have lived and prayed. Their concern, support and affection have helped me during my years of study in the United States. I am particularly grateful for the scholarship provided by the Baltimore Province, which has afforded me this precious opportunity of study. My special appreciation is also conveyed to my Provincial Very Rev. Vincent Pham Trung Thanh, and the former Provincials Very Rev. Joseph Cao Dinh Tri and vii Very Rev. Thomas Pham Huy Lam, and all superiors and confrères in Viet Nam for their encouragement and prayers for me. Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my mother and father, as well as to my godparents, relatives and friends, whose love and concern are profoundly felt. Without their love and prayers, I could not complete my study. They have been a constant source of support and joy for me. I will always remember them in my heart. viii INTRODUCTION One hundred and ninety-one of the Parochial and Plain Sermons, which were delivered by John Henry Newman between 1828 and 1843, were published in eight volumes.1 The publishing house of Rivington, in A Classified Catalogue of Books, stated that ―these sermons are, of course, masterly‖ and eulogized: ―To praise the noble language of Dr. Newman, an acknowledged master of English, would be superfluous; and these sermons, composed in the vigour of his years, are marked with the rarest grandeur and breadth of thought, and can be read with profit and pleasure by all, the religious for their profound piety, and by the students of English for their purity of diction.‖2 From the perspective of a British theologian and biblical scholar, Dr. William Sanday (1843-1920), sometime Dean Ireland‘s Professor of Exegesis of Holy Scripture at Oxford (1883-1895), described the Parochial and Plain Sermons: ―Their influence has sunk deep, and of all the agencies which have gone to make the English Church what it is, I doubt if there is any which has been so powerful.‖3 1 Most of Newman‘s sermons were originally published in his six volumes of Parochial Sermons and in the Tractarian series Plain Sermons. Later Newman selected and republished these sermons in the eight-volume series Parochial and Plain Sermons. The arrangement of the sermons in these volumes did not follow a chronological order.