Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Hans Urs von Balthasar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1986

This work by Hans Urs Von Balthasar, translated from the German,addresses the Papacy and the Church on the topics of: The Phenomenon The Refusal Forms of Abstract Unity The Real Christ in His Constellation The All-Embracing Motherhood of the Church The Historical Peter in His Successors Love as Self-Transcendence The Crucial Test

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Pr; illustrated edition edition (October 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898700205
• ISBN-13: 978-0898700206
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,212,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent scholarly, but readable presentation, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church (Paperback)

Fr. von Balthasar has enunciated, in remarkably cogent fashion, a theory of ecclesiology which as both thoroughly Catholic and expertly reasoned.

What I found most compelling, was his scheme of authority structures in the New Testament, and how each one (James, representing Law; John, representing love; Paul, representing freedom; and Peter representing authority)was necessary to the proper functioning of the Church.

A good read for anyone wishing to understand the theology behind the papacy, and how the Church is organized.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the perspective of this non-Roman Catholic reader. . ., October 25, 2000

By 

David Zampino "21st Century Hobbit" (Delavan, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church (Paperback)

. . .Fr. von Balthasar has provided a thoroughly scriptural and theological defense of the Papacy.

Fr. von Balthasar has enunciated, in remarkably cogent fashion, a theory of ecclesiology which as both thoroughly Catholic and expertly reasoned.

What I found most compelling, was his scheme of authority structures in the New Testament, and how each one (James, representing Law; John, representing love; Paul, representing freedom; and Peter representing authority)was necessary to the proper functioning of the Church. His incorporatin of the role of Mary in the Church was also worthy of note.

A good read for anyone wishing to understand the theology behind the papacy, and how the Church is organized.

This book gave me a lot to think about.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fed my mind and changed my heart..., November 30, 2001

By 

Pete Vere (Ottawa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church (Paperback)

I was not a fan of von Balthasar's before reading this book. I would find him incredibly difficult and dense to read. However, this book changed my mind about this great theologian.

Written at a level the average theologically educated reader can understand, von Balthasar's questions raised in this book are no less penetrating. I particularly enjoyed his insightful expositions of Simon-Peter's human fallibility, as well as von Balthasar's theological speculation why Our Lord would choose this very apostle to be graced with the Petrine Primacy and the gift of infallibility.

Nevertheless, as von Balthasar reminds the reader, these gifts are not given to St. Peter for his personal benefit, but rather to facilitate his service to the entire Church.

A must read for all Catholic apologists, as well as those struggling with the Petrine Primacy.