The Incarnate Lord: A Thomistic Study in Christology (Thomistic Ressourcement)

I bought this book nearly a year ago, and I go to it every time someone I am debating asks me something really difficult relating to the Christian mystery of the Incarnation. It has not once disappointed me. Fr. White gives a comprehensive and topical breakdown of Christology, and this will serve as a great reference book for you for years to come, guaranteed. Great paperback edition, very luxuriant.

I loved it, especially the last chapter called the Ontology of the Resurrection. It was full of great insights that I hadn't heard or read before. Thank you Fr. Thomas, God Bless.

A dire di mio figlio (è lui il destinatario) si tratta di un ottimo saggio di teologia tomista sul trattato De verbo incarnato di san Tommaso d'Aquino, ossia sulla Cristologia che è una delle branche della teologia dogmatica. L'autore è un frate domenicano che insegna all'Angelicum, la facoltà teologica dei domenicani a Roma. L'ideale per chi desidera un testo completo, chiaro anche se non semplicissimo, ma che è uno di quei libri che un interessato a questa materia deve leggere.

“The Incarnate Lord” is simply the best, and possibly the most important theological text of the past three hundred years. This is not because Fr. White has presented any new theological insight, but because he has systematically articulated the profound importance of classical Christian thought in the quest of understanding both God and created reality. For White the key to this understanding is the Incarnation, considered in the light of classical metaphysics. White argues the post-Reformation dichotomy between faith and reason that has shaped the entire corpus of modern thought is indefensible and ultimately and always leads to a loss of the ancient faith in Christ as presented in the early Church councils – particularly Chalcedon. Furthermore, he presses on to show that reason itself must be grounded in metaphysics to proceed, otherwise the basis for any knowledge is undermined. Human beings think and reason inherently in a metaphysical manner precisely because reality possesses both being and essence. Therefore, fruitful understanding of God’s revelation in the New Testament presupposes a realist view of knowledge and thought. In this regard, St. Thomas Aquinas has presented the faith of the New Testament in a preeminent manner that possesses a perennial validity. In articulating his position, Fr. White explains why virtually all modern thought ultimately leads to a void in reason, in the understanding of reality, and the loss of orthodox faith. He examines the positions of the most influential thinkers of the past three-hundred years, including Kant, Schleiermacher, Derrida, Nietzsche, Barth, Von Balthazar, Rahner, and Schillebeeckx – to name only a few. While he points out the ultimate radical deficiencies in the thought of these individuals, he does so without polemics, acknowledging their often-considerable contributions and insights. The work is presented in the scholastic fashion of a rigorous consideration of the strongest points of the opposing view, proceeding with an honest evaluation of the arguments, leading to a conclusion. “The Incarnate Lord” will not be an easy read for those without a theological background. While explaining in brief the various theological, philosophical, and hermeneutical positions he engages, Fr. White presupposes in the reader a basic vocabulary and appropriate foundation in these subject matters. Nevertheless, I believe it is an accessible text for the average individual who is willing to do some outside research and actually “study.” It would be well worth the effort! This book should be standard reading in every Catholic seminary and university. The study of this text will allow one to respond reasonably and confidently to the claims of modern subjectivity and skepticism that permeate the contemporary academic culture. It will also assist in articulating a positive rational basis for faith in the Incarnate Lord to those who walk in darkness and without hope.

Just finished this book and I found it exceptionally well written and helpful. If you're a Thomist in any meaningful sense as regards Trinitarian and Christological doctrine, you'll appreciate it.

Very well written. Erudite and remarkably easy to read.

The new standard in contemporary Christology.