Abstract
Is Patristics still relevant in the 21st century? This paper examines the decline of Patristic studies in the 19th–20th centuries and their brief revival before Vatican II, followed by a postconciliar downturn. It proposes that the Church Fathers remain vital for theology today, especially in Asia, where faith and culture intersect in inculturation. As witnesses to Tradition, the Fathers offer models for contextual theological reflection. The paper highlights Tertullian’s Adversus Marcionem, where he defends the unity of Scripture through the Transfiguration. Two key terms—contubernium (friendship) and repromissio (fulfillment of promise)—are translated into Tagalog as pagkakaibigan and katuparan ng pangako, bridging Patristic thought and Asian theology. Reinterpreted beyond Tertullian’s polemical context, these concepts are presented as dimensions of pag-ibig (love). Thus, Patristics serves as a living resource, offering theological depth and cultural resonance while inviting renewed engagement with the Fathers in contemporary contexts.
Recommended Citation
Marfori, Emmanuel C.
(2024)
"Are the Church Fathers Relevant in a 21st Century Inculturated and Contextualized Asian Theology?,"
Landas: Vol. 36:
No.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/landas/vol36/iss2/5