Two Kingdoms & Two Cities: Mapping Theological Traditions of Church, Culture, and Civil Order

274 Pages·2017·1.718 MB·English

by  Robert C. Crouse

Additional praise for
Two Kingdoms & Two Cities
“Crouse’s map of overt and implicit appeals to ‘two kingdoms’ has
reshapedmyhistoricalunderstandingconsiderably.Inowviewcrucial
figures like Luther very differently and more deeply than before.
Crouse’s map also surfaces some crucial biblical-theological decisions
that political doctrines of ‘the two’ consistently face. This book is an
exampleofhowimportantcarefulhistoricalanalysiscanbe—forknow-
ing where we are, how we got here, and what questions to ask about
where to head next.”
Daniel Treier, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College
“Christiansclaimtobe‘in’butnot‘of’theworld.So,howdoChristians
relate their faith to public life? In this book, Crouse navigates how
thebestChristianthinkers,bothProtestantandRomanCatholic,have
respondedtothesequestions.Intheprocess,CrouseunearthsLuther’s
theology of ‘two kingdoms’ as a contender with which all Christian
political theorists, eachintheirownways,havehadtowrestle.Ifyou
seekaguideintothesymphonyofChristiantheologyofpolitics,thisis
the one to read.”
Mark Mattes, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy,
GrandViewUniversity,authorofTheRoleofJustificationinContem-
porary Theology
“This is an elegant and erudite map of the various dualistic theories
atworkinProtestantpoliticaltheologyfromLutherandCalvintoour
own day. Niebuhr’s famous volume on Christ and culture now has a
sturdy supplement, if not a serious competitor, in Crouse’s new vol-
ume. What an impressive debut for this ‘emerging scholar.’”
John Witte, Jr., Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law, McDonald
Distinguished Professor, and Director of the Center for the Study
of Law and Religion, Emory University
“The intersection between the political and spiritual realms is a con-
stant source of interest and tension. In this timely book, Crouse takes
hisreadersthroughthehistoryoftheirinteractionanddialogueswith
someofthegreatnamesinChristiantheologyalongtheway.Thisisa
majorcontribution toanimportantsubjectanddeservesawideread-
ership, both inside and outside the church. Highly recommended!”
GeraldBray,DistinguishedProfessor ofHistoricalTheology,Knox
Theological Seminary, author ofAugustine on the Christian Life
“What does it mean for the church to be ‘in’ the world but not ‘of’ it,
andhowdothesetwoprepositionsrelatetoAugustine’stwocitiesand
Luther’stwokingdoms?Crouse’sbookprovidesbothimportantorien-
tationandstrategictipsforthechurch’sinvolvementinthecontempo-
rary, post-Christian “game of thrones”—the ongoing conflict between
secularandsacredforthebodyofChristandthesoulsofhisdisciples.”
Kevin Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“This is a groundbreaking study, conversant with the traditions of
AugustineandLutherbutalsoprovidingareliableguidetocontempo-
raryoptionsinChristianpoliticaltheology.Asustainedargumentthat
illumines as it informs.”
TimothyGeorge,foundingdeanofBeesonDivinitySchoolandgen-
eral editor of theReformation Commentary on Scripture
Two Kingdoms & Two Cities

Two Kingdoms &
Two Cities
Mapping Theological Traditions of Church, Culture,
and Civil Order
Robert C. Crouse
Fortress Press
Minneapolis
TWO KINGDOMS & TWO CITIES
Mapping Theological Traditions of Church, Culture, and Civil Order
Copyright © 2017 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations
in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner
without prior written permission from the publisher. Email [email protected]
or write to Permissions, Fortress Press, PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN
55440-1209.
Cover design: Alisha Lofgren
Hardcover ISBN: 9781506421568
Paperback ISBN: 9781506432557
eBook ISBN: 9781506425191
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National Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed
Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984.
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
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To Becky

Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Abbreviations xiii
Introduction xv
1. Luther’s “Inward/Outward” Two Kingdoms 1
2. Niebuhr, Bonhoeffer, and a “Dialectical” Two 35
Kingdoms
3. Lutheran and Catholic Neoconservatism and a 61
“Paradoxical” Two Kingdoms
4. Reformed Two-Kingdom Theology and a “Parallel” 89
Two Kingdoms
5. Neo-Augustinian Liberalism and an 121
“Eschatological” Two Kingdoms
6. Augustine and a “Christendom” Two Cities 149
7. Oliver O’Donovan and 179
A Doctrine of the “Two”
Conclusion 215
Bibliography 237
Index 249