Departing from the Augustinian view that placed Christ at the "end" of the ages, Bonaventure positioned Christ as the of history.
St. Bonaventure (1221–1274), the "Seraphic Doctor," developed a theology of history that sought to harmonize the radical spiritual movements of his time with traditional Church hierarchy. His primary historical work, the Collationes in Hexaemeron (Collations on the Six Days of Creation), presents history as a progressive "unfolding" of divine revelation centered on Jesus Christ. 1. Christ as the Center of History The Theology of History in St. Bonaventure
Bonaventure’s theology was a direct response to the "Spiritual Franciscans," who followed the apocalyptic prophecies of Joachim of Fiore . Departing from the Augustinian view that placed Christ
: Just as the Son is the center of the Trinity, He is the center of the cosmos and history. All historical events are "exemplified" by Christ and find their ultimate meaning in Him. 2. The Relationship with Joachim of Fiore His primary historical work, the Collationes in Hexaemeron
: Christ stands between the time of "sickness" (before the Incarnation) and the time of "judgment" (the second coming), serving as the bridge between past and future.