HISTORY AS THEOLOGICAL CATEGORY
The Vatican Council’s recognition that Revelation is a
personal event, narrated in texts that reflect a particular history and
culture, gave support to the growing importance of history as a condition of
all theological understanding. This means, on the one hand, that all aspects of
Christian faith (texts, particular doctrinal formulations, etc.) can only be
properly understood in the historical context in which they developed. It also
means that the events of history are themselves theological in nature, capable
of revealing the God who continues to act in history and in the human
community which is always in dialogue with God. Though there is no Conciliar text
on the importance of history, historical reflection is found in every text. The
document on Divine Revelation insists that God’s self-communication to God’s
people takes place in time and within the conditions imposed by history. The
Constitution on the Church describes the People of God as a “pilgrim people”
who come to understand their Creator and Saviour slowly and only in imperfect
stages.
No moment in time, no particular structure, not even a
particular dogmatic statement captures the entire mystery of God. At no point
in the historical process, is the vital energising Spirit immobilised in any
human formulation or institution. This recognition has imposed a healthy
humility on all theological activity subsequent to the Council and created a
radical openness to the truth and grace preserved in other Christian
traditions. It has required that theologians not only reflect upon the biblical
texts which are foundational but also consider the historical events which have
illuminated the Church in its struggle to formulate a more adequate
understanding of the mystery.
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