Christ and Analogy The Christocentric Metaphysics of Hans Urs von Balthasar by Junius Johnson This in-depth study of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s metaphysics attempts to reproduce the core philosophical commitments of the Balthasarian system as necessary for a deep understanding of von Balthasar’s theology. Focusing on the God-world relation, the author examines von Balthasar’s reasons for rejecting all views that consider this relation in terms of either identity or pure difference, and makes clear what is at stake in these fundamentally theological choices. The author then details von Balthasar’s understanding of the accepted way of parsing this relationship, analogy. The philosophical dimensions of analogy are explored in such philosophical topics as the Trinity and Christology, though these topics may be treated only in a preliminary way in a study focused on metaphysics. “Crisp writing, clear thought, insightful reflection on a seminal and influential thinker's take on one of the most fundamental themes of theology–what more would you want from a book in theology? This is in fact what you get with Johnson's Christ and Analogy. Whether you are interested in von Balthasar, in theological method, or in relationship between metaphysics and theology you should read this book.” --Miroslav Volf, Yale Divinity School Junius Johnson is a lecturer at Yale Divinity School and a research fellow at the Rivendell Institute at Yale University. Johnson earned a Ph.D. in theology at Yale University. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction I. Theology’s Handmaid: Scope of the Project A. What is Metaphysics? B. What is Theology? C. The Relation of Metaphysics and Theology D. Sacred Metaphysics II. Never-Ceasing Fountain: von Balthasar’s Sources A. Plato and the Question of Platonism B. Aquinas C. Hegel D. Heidegger E. Bonaventure III. Point of Departure IV. The Road To Be Travelled: Methodological Comments Chapter 2: Exemplarity and Expression: Rejection of the Pure Difference Thesis I. What Is the Nature of the God-Creature Relation? A. The Analogy Thesis B. Sources II. Historical Form of the Rejection of the Pure Difference Thesis A. Establishing the Archetype 1. The Analogical Approach: The First Cause from Below 2. The Katalogical Approach: The First Cause from Above B. Bonaventure and the Synthesis of Exemplar and Exemplarity III. Ideal Form of the Rejection of the Pure Difference Thesis A. The Necessity of Imago B. Pure Difference and Christology C. Ambigua Concerning the Pure Difference Thesis 1. Objection 1: Negative Theology 2. Objection 2: God and the Subject-Object Scheme 3. Objection 3: Revisiting the Wholly Other Chapter 3: The Positivity of the Other: Rejection of the Identity Thesis I. Historical Form of the Rejection of the Identity Thesis A. Plotinus B. Fichte II. Ideal Form of the Rejection of the Identity Thesis A. The Positivity of the World B. The Presupposition of Unity Chapter 4: Analogy: A Theological and Philosophical Via Media I. Historical Form of the Analogy Thesis A. The Ontology of Participation B. Bonaventure—Exemplarity and Mediation II. Ideal Form of the Analogy Thesis A. Analogy Under the Sign of Likeness B. Analogy Under the Sign of Greater Unlikeness Chapter 5: Personhood and von Balthasar’s Two Metaphysics I. The Importance of the Unique II. The Two Metaphysics of Hans Urs von Balthasar: Ideal and Historical A. The Ideal Metaphysic B. The Historical Metaphysic III. The Relation Between the Ideal and Historical Metaphysics Excursus: von Balthasar and Supralapsarianism Chapter 6: Analogy of Being in Trinitarian and Christological Keys I. From the One to the Many: Multiplication in the Ideal Metaphysic A. Trinitarian Dimensions of the Analogy of Being 1. Grounding the Positivity of Difference in God 2. Greater Unlikeness B. Christological Dimensions of the Analogy of Being II. Proportionalitas: Multiplication in the Historical Metaphysic Chapter 7: Participation, Love, and Kenosis I. The Concept of Kenosis A. The Last Kenosis—Incarnation B. Second Kenosis—Creation C. First Kenosis–Trinitarian Processions Epilogue .