Fils adoptifs de Dieu par Jésus Christ by Luc-Thomas Somme, O.P. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 477 There are other classic topics at the center of Mohler's work, which lie beyond the scope of this study, but that would benefit from further investigation. The doctrine of the sacraments is the third topic alongside of anthropology and ecclesiology in Symbolism, where Mohler provides. a sacramental vision of the Church closely related to his mature incarnational viewpoint, a commonplace connection in twentieth-century Catholic theology. Moreover, Mohler's views on the nature of tradition and on CatholicProtestant relations also merit ongoing scrutiny and commentary. Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin BRADFORD E. HINZE Fils adoptifs de Dieu par Jesus Christ, By Luc-THOMAS SOMME, O.P. Paris: Librarie Philosophique J. Vrin, 1997. Pp. 401. 240 F (paper). ISBN 2-7116-1314-3. Since the seventeenthcentury, when eminent scholars such as Lessius, Petau, and Thomassin wished to compare the teaching of St. Thomas on this point with that of the Greek Fathers, numerous studies have been devoted to the project. This book is not merely the last of an already long series. For the first time, this study has been conducted with the help of new methods of investigation now available to researchers, which enable them to carry out their task exhaustively. The Thomistic Index, whose use is now facilitated by CD-ROM, doubtless has its limitations, but it allows for verifications which have not been made up till now. Since excellent scriptural and patristic studies on this subject already exist, the author has not judged it practical to repeat their work, and therefore devotes his research exclusively to St. Thomas and his interpretation. The result is a methodically conducted, extensively researched, and scientific monograph that explores the subject in its most minute details. The book has three major sections. The first presents the texts of St. Thomas that treat of adoption (adoptio,. adoptare,. adoptius: 743 occurrences) in chronological order. Subdivided into two parts, it deals first with theological works: Sententia, De veri-eate, Contra Gentiles, Summa Theologiae, and various references scattered through other books (chaps. 1-5); and second, scriptural 'commentaries: the Pauline Corpus, the Lectura Super Matthaeum and Super ]oannem, as well as indications found in the Super Isaiam, the Psalms, and the Catena aurea (chaps. 6-9). 478 BOOK REVIEWS In the author's words, this first section answers the question, "What did St. Thomas say himself?" Prior to any status quaestionis, more or less biased in the sense of a thesis to be defended, he wants to give us access to the texts, and to all the texts, which he lists in parallel columns with their translations. He would have us judge for ourselves and would point out at once to what an extent the documentation, until now too limited, needs to be broadened. This is therefore an ample collection, complete, very carefully drawn up, and admirably presented, offering along the way all the information needed to situate and understand it. Of set purpose Fr. Luc-Thomas refrains from making any assessment of the data, intending rather to stimulate us to supply the missing commentary. At the end of the first section the results of this research are grouped under four points: (1) Thomas is concerned to show clearly the difference between the Son by nature and sons by adoption, so as to avoid any trace of adoptionism or Pelagianism (since it is the work of a purely gratuitous love); (2) the Trinitarian character of the adoption does not exclude a concern to weigh the respective roles of the Son (since it is through his mediation that the adoption is effected) and of the Spirit; (3) the role of the Spirit is precisely to conform us to the Son by nature and to guarantee the pledge of our inheritance as sons; the filial relation thus created by the Spirit is the life of God in us through the indwelling of the Trinity, and of us in God, through assimilation to the Son by nature; (4) baptism is the instrument of this regeneration in the Spirit. The chronological order does not allow us to perceive variations in the presence of these four principal themes, but we can discern a progressive distancing from the right to...