dr. matthew lewis sutton
Matthew Lewis Sutton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology
St. John’s University
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
St. John’s Hall B20-27
718.990.5052
suttonm@stjohns.edu
Educational Background
Ph.D., 2007, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, Catholic Systematic Theology
M.A., 2002, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, Systematic Theology
B.A., 1999, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) , Rome, Italy, Catholic Studies, Theology, and Philosophy
Profile
Matthew L. Sutton, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, earned his doctorate in Religious Studies with a specialization in Catholic Systematic Theology from Marquette University. He joined St. John’s University Department of Theology and Religious Studies in 2008 and teaches courses in Christology, Trinitarian Theology, Ecclesiology, Mariology, and Christian Spirituality. He has also been an adjunct professor at the College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University, MN.
His research interests include integrating the valuable content of Mystical Theology with Trinitarian Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Mariology, and Ecclesiology and researching the theologies of Adrienne von Speyr and Hans Urs von Balthasar.
Most recently, he has presented most recently at the College Theology Society conference on the Trinitarian taxonomy of Hans Urs von Balthasar and in the past on the ecclesial relationship between Hans Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr. He has also presented papers at the University Faculty for Life annual conferences.
He has an article published in the International Journal of Systematic Theology on the Christologies of Karl Rahner and Maurice de la Taille and a forthcoming article on the relationship of von Speyr and von Balthasar in German in the journal Geist und Leben. He is completing a book manuscript of his dissertation “The Gate of Heaven Opens to the Trinity: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr.”
He is presenting at the Inter-disciplinary.net conference Making Sense of Suffering a paper titled “Does God Suffer?: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Theology of Holy Saturday.”
Published Articles and Reviews
“Paulinischen Theologie des Charismas und der kirchlichen Verbindungen zwischen Hans Urs von Balthasar und Adrienne von Speyr” Geist und Leben, forthcoming
“Review of Faith in the Fight: Religion and the American Soldier in the Great War by Jonathan H. Ebel,” Church History: Studies in christianity and Culture, forthcoming
“Life is Beautiful: A Theological-Aesthetic Argument for Life,” Life and Learning Conference XVII Proceedings of the University Faculty for Life, forthcoming
“Life is Beautiful: A Theological-Aesthetic Argument for Life,” University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy 3 (Spring 2009): 15-25
“Review of Scattering the Seed: A Guide through Balthasar’s Early Works on Philosophy and the Arts, by Aidan Nichols,” Horizons 36 (Spring 2009): 146-147
“Mysterium Christi: The Christologies of Karl Rahner and Maurice de la Taille,” International Journal of Systematic Theology, 10 (October 2008): 416-430
Presentations
“Does God “Our Finitude Encounters the Trinity’s Infinitude: Orientation to Adrienne von Speyr” presented at Heart’s Home USA Orientation for International Volunteers, June 17, 2010
“Encountering a Consistent Taxonomy of the Trinity: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Theology of the Trinitarian Inversion and Reversion,” presented at College Theology Society, University of Portland, OR, June 5, 2010
“Paul’s Theology of Charism and the Ecclesial Relationship between Hans Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr,” presented at College Theology Society, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, ID, May 30, 2009
“Retrieval of Fatherhood through a Retrieval of Faith in God the Father,” to be presented at University Faculty for Life Annual Conference, University of St. Thomas Law School, Minneapolis, MN, June 6, 2009
“Augustine’s Confessions: A Restless Heart Seeks Rest in God” presented to St. John’s Faculty Book Circle, April 2, 2009
“The Ecclesial Relationship between the Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Mystic Adrienne von Speyr,” presented to Theta Alpha Kappa Theology Honors Society and the Faculty of the St. John’s University Department of Theology and Religious Studies, February 12, 2009
“Life is Beautiful: A Theological-Aesthetic Argument for Life,” presented at the University Faculty for Life Conference, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, May 30 - June 1, 2008
“Does God Need the Pope? A Presentation and Conversation about the Papacy, Benedict XVI, and America,” presented to the Fides et Ratio student group, April 21, 2008
“Catholic Teachings about Mary,” presented to the Fides et Ratio student group, January 28, 2008
“The Trinity according to Hans Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr,” presented to the graduate course on the Trinity, School of Theology, St. John’s University, November 5, 2007
“Obedience as Imitation of Christ,” presented to the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, May 13, 2007
“Mother Teresa: A Documentary and Conversation,” presented to the Fides et Ratio student group, November 2, 2007
“The Generation Searching for a Beautiful Family: A Roman Catholic, Generation X Vision of Ecumenism,” presented at the “Catholic / Pentecostal Dialogue: Young Theologians on Ecumenism,” Society for Pentecostal Studies Conference, Southeastern College, Lakeland, FL, March 14, 2002
“The Catholic Response to Mormonism,” presented to the Bellarmine Society student group, April 9, 2002
Dissertation
“The Gate of Heaven Opens to the Trinity: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr.” Ph.D. diss., Marquette University, 2007.
Professional Societies
Catholic Theological Society of America
College Theology Society
Inter-disciplinary.Net
University Faculty for Life