O'Collins, Gerald Glynn 1931-

PERSONAL:

Born July 2, 1931, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; son of Francis (a lawyer) and Joan O'Collins. Education: University of Melbourne, B.A., 1957, M.A., 1958; Heythrop College, London, S.T.L., 1967; Cambridge University, Ph.D., 1968.

ADDRESSES:

Home and office—Universita Gregoriana, Piazza della Pilotta 4, 00187 Rome, Italy.

CAREER:

Entered Society of Jesus (Jesuits), 1950, ordained Roman Catholic priest, 1963; external lecturer at Heythrop College, 1966-67, and University of Leicester, 1967; Cambridge University, Pembroke College, Cambridge, England, research fellow, 1967-69; Jesuit Theological College, Melbourne, Australia, lecturer in theology, 1969-73; Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, professor of theology, 1974—, dean of theology faculty, 1985—.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Traveling fellowship from University of Melbourne, 1965-67; Paola and Antonio Malipiero prize, 1987.

WRITINGS:

Patrick McMahon Glynn (biography), Melbourne University Press (Melbourne, Australia), 1965.

Theology and Revelation, Fides Publishers (Notre Dame, IN), 1968.

Man and His New Hopes, Herder & Herder (New York, NY), 1969.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Judson Press (Valley Forge, PA), 1973, published in England as The Easter Jesus, Darton, Longham & Todd (London, England), 1973.

Theology of Secularity, Mercier Press, 1974.

Patrick McMahon Glynn: Letters to His Family, Polding Press (Melbourne, Australia), 1974.

Faith under Fire, Polding Press (Melbourne, Australia), 1974.

The Case against Dogma, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1975, published in England as Has Dogma a Future?, Darton, Longham & Todd (London, England), 1975.

The Calvary Christ, Westminster Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1977.

What Are They Saying about Jesus?, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1977.

The Second Journey, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1978, enlarged edition, Villa Books (Dublin, Ireland), 1979.

A Month with Jesus, Dimension Books, 1978.

What Are They Saying about the Resurrection?, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1978.

(Editor and contributor) The Cross Today, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1978.

Fundamental Theology, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1981.

Problems and Perspectives in Fundamental Theology, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1982.

Interpreting Jesus, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1983.

Finding Jesus, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1984.

The People's Christmas, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1984.

Jesus Today, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1986.

Jesus Risen, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1987.

Interpreting Resurrection, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1988.

Friends in Faith: Living the Creed Day by Day, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1989.

A Concise Dictionary of Theology, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1991, second edition, 2000.

(With Mary Venturini) Believing: Understanding the Creed, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1991.

Retrieving Fundamental Theology: The Three Styles of Contemporary Theology, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1993.

(Editor, with Gilberto Marconi) Luke and Acts, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1993.

(Coauthor) Faith and the Future: Studies in Christian Eschatology, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1994.

Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1995.

(Coeditor) The Resurrection: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Resurrection of Jesus, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1997.

(With Daniel Kendall) The Bible for Theology: Ten Principles for the Theological Use of Scripture, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1997.

All Things New: The Promise of Advent, Christmas, and the New Year, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1998.

The Tripersonal God: Understanding and Interpreting the Trinity, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 1999.

(Coeditor) The Trinity: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Trinity, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1999.

The Convergence of Theology: A Festschrift Honoring Gerald O'Collins, S.J., Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2001.

Following the Way: Jesus, Our Spiritual Director, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2001.

(Editor, with Stephen T. Davis and Daniel Kendall) The Incarnation: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Incarnation of the Son of God, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England, and New York, NY), 2002.

(Editor, with Daniel Kendall) In Many and Diverse Ways: In Honor of Jacques Dupuis, Orbis Books (Maryknoll, NY), 2003.

(With Mario Farrugia) Catholicism: The Story of Catholic Christianity, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England, and New York, NY), 2003.

(Editor, with Stephen T. Davis and Daniel Kendall) The Redemption: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Christ as Redeemer, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England, and New York, NY), 2004.

Living Vatican II: The 21st Council for the 21st Century, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2006.

(Editor, with Daniel Kendall and Jeffrey LaBelle) John Paul II, Pope John Paul II: A Reader, Paulist Press (New York, NY), 2007.

Jesus Our Redeemer: A Christian Approach to Salvation, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England, and New York, NY), 2007.

Salvation for All: God's Other Peoples, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England, and New York, NY), 2007.

Jesus: A Portrait, Orbis Books (Maryknoll, NY), 2008.

Contributor to theology journals and dictionaries. Eight of O'Collins's books have been translated into French, Spanish, German, Korean, Italian, and Spanish.

SIDELIGHTS:

Gerald Glynn O'Collins once told CA: "I am another expatriate Australian professor and writer—this time in theology—and the first Australian to hold a position at Gregorian University, the premier theological center in the Roman Catholic Church. Teaching and writing theology here, as well as simply living in Rome, have become an even more exciting and worthwhile project after the election of a vigorous, Polish pope."

Expressing the belief that every student of theology owes Gerald Glynn O'Collins a tremendous "debt of gratitude," America contributor Robert P. Imbelli went on to say that, in each of his successive books, O'Collins is "a sure guide to the most fundamental issues of theology. His work on the resurrection, on Christology and on the Trinity combine deep knowledge of the tradition with extensive and informed presentations of contemporary approaches and positions." What's more, the critic added, O'Collins achieves this "non-polemically, only occasionally manifesting the literary equivalent of a raised eyebrow."

O'Collins's survey Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus presents an overview of traditional teachings about Jesus. America contributor Pheme Perkins described the book as a "tightly argued volume that takes on a wide range of contemporary writing in biblical, historical and systematic theology," adding that it "should be required reading for all students of Catholic theology." Imbelli, reviewing the book in Commonweal, hailed it as "a work of informed scholarship, careful critique, and mature theological insight [that] shows how deep fidelity to the tradition can stimulate, not constrict, creativity."

Among O'Collins's best books, in Imbelli's opinion, is another study of Christology, Jesus Our Redeemer: A Christian Approach to Salvation. The book presents an analysis of Jesus as the "New Adam," and integrates references to aesthetics, such as art, painting, and film, with theological material. While Imbelli raised some questions regarding O'Collins's discussion of grace and revelation, the critic concluded that the book is nothing less than a "splendid performance."

O'Collins has also written extensively about the Second Vatican Council and its influence on the modern church. Thomas G. Guarino, writing in America, described Retrieving Fundamental Theology: The Three Styles of Contemporary Theology as "an excellent attempt at retrieving and rethinking several fundamental insights" from the council, concluding that O'Collins "displays a creative and masterly hand in identifying both what is enduring in the last council and what riches have yet to be mined more fully."

In Living Vatican II: The 21st Council for the 21st Century, O'Collins aims to communicate to younger readers the urgency and significance of the Second Vatican Council, and to urge a new generation of theologians to fulfill its heritage. O'Collins moves from personal analysis of what the council has meant in his own religious life to a more objective discussion of subjects such as liturgical reform and moral theology. As William J. Collinge pointed out in a review in America, O'Collins "writes from extensive experience and a clear love of Jesus and the church." But the critic added that the "moderate and judicious" opinions in the book are not likely to find a sympathetic audience among the growing number of "evangelical Catholics" who prefer not to embrace ecumenism.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

America, June 25, 1983, "Problems and Perspectives of Fundamental Theology," p. 18; December 10, 1983, Michael L. Cook, review of Interpreting Jesus, p. 379; December 5, 1987, Daniel J. Harrington, review of Jesus Risen, p. 435; April 11, 1992, Bonnie Thurston, review of A Concise Dictionary of Theology, p. 304; February 4, 1995, Thomas G. Guarino, review of Retrieving Fundamental Theology: The Three Styles of Contemporary Theology, p. 24; March 23, 1996, Pheme Perkins, review of Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus, p. 26; March 7, 1998, Daniel J. Harrington, review of The Resurrection, p. 23; May 16, 1998, Joseph T. Lienhard, "A Trinity Summit," p. 6; May 12, 2003, "Catholic, Protestant Scholars Discuss Redemption," p. 5; January 16, 2006, John A. Hollohan, "Above the Fray," p. 28; April 24, 2006, "Judas Document Does Not Merit Name Gospel," p. 7; October 23, 2006, William J. Collinge, "An Event to Experience," p. 25; October 8, 2007, Robert P. Imbelli, "Total Self-Gift," p. 25.

Catholic Biblical Quarterly, July, 1994, Richard S. Ascough, review of Luke and Acts, p. 624; January, 1997, George T. Montague, review of Christology, p. 168.

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, February, 1992, J.R. Kennedy, review of A Concise Dictionary of Theology, p. 877; January, 1996, C.C. Newman, review of Christology, p. 809.

Christian Century, December 23, 1981, J. Robert Nelson, review of Fundamental Theology, p. 1345; December 16, 1987, Ron Large, review of Jesus Risen, p. 1150; November 22, 1995, Charles A. Wilson, review of Christology, p. 1138.

Christianity Today, July 13, 1998, D.A. Carson, review of The Resurrection, p. 67.

Commonweal, March 11, 1994, Avery Dulles, review of Retrieving Fundamental Theology; January 26, 1996, Robert P. Imbelli, review of Christology, p. 25; January 11, 2002, Lawrence S. Cunningham, review of The Tripersonal God: Understanding and Interpreting the Trinity, p. 28; July 14, 2006, Lawrence S. Cunningham, "Religion Booknotes," p. 28.

English Historical Review, April, 2005, Diarmaid MacCulloch, review of Catholicism: The Story of Catholic Christianity, p. 569.

European History Quarterly, October, 2005, E. Ann Matter, review of Catholicism, p. 596.

First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, December, 2000, BDM, review of The Trinity: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Trinity, p. 59.

Internet Bookwatch, December, 2007, review of Pope John Paul II: A Reader.

Interpretation, July, 2000, review of The Trinity, p. 340.

Journal of Ecclesiastical History, October, 2005, Jeffrey T. Zalar, "Modern Catholic Perspectives," p. 749.

Journal of Religion, April, 1989, Randall Zachman, review of Jesus Risen, p. 269; April, 1999, Chalres Mathewes, review of The Resurrection, p. 306; July, 2001, Kathryn Tanner, review of The Trinity, p. 481.

Journal of Theological Studies, October, 1996, George Newlands, review of Christology, p. 782; October, 1998, Dennis Nineham, review of The Resurrection, p. 907; April, 2001, Maurice Wiles, review of The Trinity, p. 488; April, 2007, Susannah Ticciati, review of The Redemption: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Christ as Redeemer, p. 366.

Library Journal, May 1, 1991, Steve Gowler, review of A Concise Dictionary of Theology, p. 72; April 15, 2000, John-Leonard Berg, review of A Concise Dictionary of Theology, p. 76.

Modern Theology, January, 1998, William L. Portier, review of Christology, p. 153; April, 2001, David S. Cunningham, review of The Tripersonal God, p. 253.

National Catholic Reporter, September 18, 1981, Michael G. Lawler, review of Fundamental Theology, p. 16; April 6, 1984, Ruth Edwards, review of Finding Jesus, p. 21; December 28, 1990, William C. Graham, review of Friends in Faith: Living the Creed Day by Day, p. 17.

Religious Studies, June, 1999, Martin Stone, review of The Resurrection, p. 243.

Scottish Journal of Theology, May, 1989, David Fergusson, review of Jesus Risen, p. 105.

Theological Studies, December, 1994, Joseph J. Smith, review of Retrieving Fundamental Theology, p. 791; September, 1996, James L. Heft, review of Christology, p. 547; September, 1999, review of The Bible for Theology: Ten Principles for the Theological Use of Scripture, p. 576; June, 2000, William P. Loewe, review of The Tripersonal God, p. 393; December, 2003, J.J. Mueller, review of The Incarnation: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Incarnation of the Son of God, p. 854; September, 2005, Paul J. Griffiths, review of In Many and Diverse Ways: In Honor of Jacques Dupuis, p. 689.

Theology, November 1, 1997, Stephen C. Barton, review of The Resurrection, p. 455; November 1, 1998, John Barton, review of The Bible for Theology, p. 456; September 1, 2000, Stephen Carr, review of The Tripersonal God, p. 374; November 1, 2000, Stephen Carr, review of The Trinity, p. 449; September 1, 2001, Jonathan Knight, review of Interpreting Jesus, p. 368; January 1, 2003, Maurice Wiles, review of The Incarnation, p. 47; May 1, 2007, Gerard Loughlin, review of The Redemption, p. 213.

Theology Today, July, 1999, Walter Moberly, review of The Bible for Theology, p. 258; January, 2000, Leanne Van Dyk, review of The Resurrection, p. 642; January, 2001, Robert W. Jenson, review of The Trinity, p. 580.

Times Literary Supplement, December 13, 1991, J. Leslie Houlden, review of A Concise Dictionary of Theology, p. 25.

ONLINE

Catholic News Service,http://www.catholicnews.com/ (March 14, 2008), Cindy Wooden, "Jesuit Scholar Says Gospel of Judas Does Not Merit Name ‘Gospel.’"

Oxford University Press Web site,http://www.oup.com/ (March 14, 2008), Gerald O'Collins profile.