Retracing the Theological Logic of The Way to Nicea: Lonergan’s Interpretation of Early Trinitarian Controversies and its Contemporary Relevance

Abstract

Beyond its historical scope, Bernard Lonergan’s The Way to Nicaea offers a profound insight into the development of Trinitarian dogma. This article provides a methodological reading, demonstrating how the articulation of homoousios at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) signifies a pivotal shift from symbolic to speculative consciousness. Through Lonergan’s intentional operation of consciousness—experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding—we trace the dialectical transcendence of early theological positions. Athanasius’s hermeneutical “rule” is presented as a concrete instance of this epistemological breakthrough. Furthermore, drawing on Lonergan’s functional specialties, we argue that authentic dogmatic development, exemplified by the Nicene formula, necessitates a critical self-appropriation. Far from concluding theological inquiry, Nicaea inaugurates a dynamic and unfinished pursuit of understanding, driven by love.

Keywords: Lonergan. Homoousius. Trinity. Dogmatic development.