Founded in the 19th century, the “Nouvelle Revue Théologique” lives up to its name. At a time when so many voices struggle to be heard, it continues to foster dialogue between Christian faith, contemporary culture, and critical reason. This dialogue, rooted in an understanding of the Scriptures, bears witness to a simple conviction: Christ makes all things new.
The Nouvelle Revue Théologique (“New Theological Review”) — affectionately nicknamed NRT — was founded by Father Jean-Joseph Loiseaux, a priest from the Belgian diocese of Tournai. It has been “at the service of research in the Church” since 1869, so its “newness” is more than 150 years old!
But the “New” in its name comes not so much from its history as from its approach and originality in the world of theological journals. As Father Alban Massie, Jesuit and editor-in-chief, suggested during the 150th anniversary celebrations, the NRT aims to participate in discerning “the newness of divine revelation in a world which, itself, is in constant renewal.”
Indeed, the NRT “truly speaks of theology and scrutinizes the mystery of God with intelligence,” explains the researcher, but also aims to have “an impact on the view of the world and the Church.” Its objective is summed up in its motto: “Clarifying the faith, nourishing ecclesial life, accompanying the mission.”
Since 1921, the four annual issues have been published by theology professors under the auspices of the Society of Jesus in Brussels. However, the journal isn’t reserved to a select circle of specialists: it’s aimed as much at theologians and religious scholars as at the faithful who wish to learn more. While the journal devotes considerable space to Scripture and theological questions, its broader aim is to foster dialogue between faith, culture, and reason.
An openness that nourishes the lives of believers
Each quarter, readers of French, English, Spanish, and Italian are invited to discover six to eight articles covering various areas of theological reflection. Each issue also includes nearly 100 reviews of recent works. This demonstrates the editorial board's commitment to addressing contemporary issues.
This same purpose explains the regular analyses of current events published on the journal's website, which has the advantage of being bi-media (print and digital). It provides easy access to a hundred years of publications, where great names such as Balthasar, John Paul II, Vanhoye, Congar, and Lubac have written important articles.
This string of luminaries might be dizzying, but it doesn’t put readers off; on the contrary! Marie-Pierre, the mother of six children, has been a subscriber for many years. She discovered NRT when she was a student in Belgium and has remained loyal to it ever since.
“This magazine is invaluable to my spiritual life,” explains Marie-Pierre, who is now working for the bishop of Luçon (Vendée). “The articles nourish me spiritually and help me discover the Word of God more deeply.”
Father Gabriel Planchez echoes this sentiment: “From a spiritual point of view, reading NRT invites me to contemplate the depth of the Christian mystery through the research of others.” This priest from the Diocese of Arras discovered the magazine while in the seminary. He’s not alone, since the publication, available in 80 countries, is found in almost all houses of formation.
Working for dialogue and communion
He continues: “When I left the seminary, I felt the need to continue reading quality articles to nourish my ministry. The journal offered me a living link between academic research and the life of faith. It’s a way of remaining in dialogue with contemporary theological reflection.” In this way, he’s able to “articulate theological reflection and pastoral life.”
Marie-Pierre, for her part, says she has “often found support” in NRT for the various services she renders to the Church. Her “love” for the publication has grown through reading articles on a variety of topics, from the Synod on Synodality to the place of the diaconate and the Jubilee of Hope. She now uses the journal as a special gift that she readily offers to those around her who are in pastoral ministry or in formation.
As the world's most widely distributed journal in the field of theology, read even in the Roman dicasteries, the NRT remains accessible and generalist. It seeks to be a tool for believers, students, priests, and committed laypeople who want to deepen their understanding of the faith today, because “theologians do not exclude any of the questions that the world raises,” says Father Alban Massie. In its columns, “authors are free to step back from the rush of the world to think, reflect, and help.”
The editor assures us that as soon as he receives an article, he asks himself “whether a reader will find in it an opportunity to rejoice, not to despair.” He concludes by reiterating both the necessity and the novelty of the Nouvelle revue théologique: "Like an old telephone, it simply allows us to communicate. It brings us into the long time of theology, into the time that allows for communion. And as it has been since 1869, the NRT will always be new, with the newness brought by the One who makes ‘all things new’ (Rev 21:5)."
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La Nouvelle Revue Théologique, four issues per year
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