I don’t know how the first time through his book I missed this hilarious yet serious footnote. Dr. Pawl has just mentioned that in a few sources that are sorta, kinda, maybe within the purview of Conciliar Christology (Cyril’s 3rd letter to Nestorius and the so-called “Athanasian Creed”), the hypostatic union, the ineffable, unique relation between the eternal Logos and the “complete human nature,” can be legitimately compared to the relation between a human soul and its body. Pawl comments,
Fr Joseph Pohle, an important systematic theologian writing in the manual tradition, says… “those who have spun out these analogies into full-fledged arguments have notoriously all ended in heresy.” Likewise, Francis Ferrier… writes of the “futility of seeking to account for the mystery [of the hypostatic union] by pure reason, and of the way all such efforts can only end tragically in heresy.” This, surely, gives my Catholic heart pause. Let me say, then, that if I say anything heretical or contrary to the authoritative teaching of Holy Mother Church, whose loyal son I am and seek to remain, then I will host a bonfire at which I and any of you who feel inclined can come and burn our copies of this book. (p. 22, fr. 14)
Will there ever be such a party? Who knows. Many loyal sons of the Church who had every intention of remaining loyal to her nonetheless found themselves being made into poster-boys for heresy. Off the top of my head, Marcellus of Ancyra, Apollinarus of Laodicea, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Origen of Alexandria. It’s surprising that Athanasius and Eusebius avoided this fate. I would genuinely hate to hear Catholic bishops fuming about the “madness” of Tim of Minnesota or about the “Tim-o-mania” of his readers. If I had to bet, I’d say there’s enough wiggle-room in the Catholic formulations for him to get by. But of course, it’s not for me to decide!
In any case, if this party happens and I am invited, I have two questions. First, what kind of beer will be served there? Second, is it OK if I attend, but do not burn my copy of the book? (It’s too expensive!) In all seriousness, if you’re serious about trying to understand catholic traditions about Incarnation, this book is indispensible. It has no peer, and is not likely to have one for quite some time. It is the most ambitious attempt to date to keep all of the balls in the air, and it is very cleanly executed. The book is going to have a big impact on scholarly and other discussions. You can get a flavor of it in my two interviews with Dr. Pawl:
- podcast 143 – Dr. Timothy Pawl’s In Defense of Conciliar Christology – Part 1
- podcast 144 – Dr. Timothy Pawl’s In Defense of Conciliar Christology – Part 2
Catch the Tim-o-mania!
