Les perfections du Dieu de Jésus-Christ by Bertrand de Margerie, S.J. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS i55 adequate for the twentieth century. Had theology stopped short in· the Middle Ages? I regret, then, the final sentence of Fr. Weisheipl's Introduction : "For our guide [in the study of John] we can have none better than the Angelic Doctor, whom Jesus loved". The pietas is, perhaps, understandable. But I, also a brother of Friar Thomas, find many more penetrating insights in the classic commentary of Rudolf Bultmann. A sour note. It is a great pity that Weisheipl has gone out of his way to drag in Hans Kling-whom he evidently misunderstands (p. 482) . It is distasteful (to put it very, very mildly) to find Kling branded a heretic (p. 479). A medieval theologian may be excused his lavish bestowal of the epithet "heretic ". A modern writer ought to be more circumspect. That said, I warmly commend the industry of Frs. Weisheipl and Larcher . They have given us a splendid translation of a major exegetical work of the thirteenth century. It is right that we should be reminded of our heritage. But we must keep our balance. While preparing this review I happened to be reading Edward Schillebeeckx 's Christ. His lengthy (pp. 305-432) exposition of Johannine thought is truly impressive. Indeed, the exegetical expertise of this systematic theologian throughout his two Jesus-books is awe-inspiring. For me, it is most encouraging that, in our day, a brother of Friar Thomas d'Aquino, a preeminent theologian, has given us a major exegetical study. This is the Thomistic tradition that appeals to me. St. Mary's, Tallaght County Dublin, Ireland WILFRID HARRINGTON, O.P. Les perfections du Dieu de Jesus-Christ. By BERTRAND DE MARGERIE, S.J. Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1981. Pp. 489. NF 114, Cent. 30. " Every scribe that is trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old " (Mt. 18: 52). This logion could be an apt motto for this remarkable book. Seminary professors, their students, and scholars in general are often reluctant today to present or to read a tract De Deo uno in traditional form; yet the feeling is growing that more substantial fare is needed than has been given in many places. While Fr. de Margerie ·did not write this as a textbook, we can best describe it as providing a comparably solid yet new treatment of that basic topic. The author describes his work thus: " A volume that does not pretend to he .... philosophical, but theological. It is not a manual of theodicy. 156 BOOK REVIEWS Our intention is not to reply to questions which reason . . . could pose about the origin and goal of the world; the God of whom the philosopher speaks is not yet the God who speaks of Himself to the believer...." For the approach is to be basically Scriptural. 'Nor is this book "apologetics . . . but it is, and means to be, an apology within the fold of the faith." Again, it is " not a book of fundamental theology; it does not pretend to treat the rational preliminaries of faith, but rather that which the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of Jesus Christ, has revealed about His ways of acting and about His Being." As a result, the table of contents is far from reproducing the old line of theses. Instead we find these chief topics: the incomprehensible God makes Himself known; the theology of Atheism; the evolution of the biblical notion of God; the revealing and revealed God is Being and Love; in respect to the idolatry of polytheism and pantheism, the revealing God is simple, one, unique, and jealous; the omniscient and prescient knowledge of God, the illuminator of man. The second group of chapters, on the action of God, considers: God the Creator, origin and end of the universe; the God who reveals is immanent, present everywhere; the revealed God is the eternal, the faithful, the absolute future of man; He is mercy and patience; He is the all-powerful will to save us; Redemptive Providence, Wisdom, and the sanctifying sanctity of the living God; God who predestines the just, reprobates obstinate...