Interpreting Faith for the Modern Era

by Rudolf Karl Bultmann

Bultmann's pioneering study of the New Testament initiated a new era in biblical studies in the Twentieth Century. Together with Karl Barth, Bultmann broke with liberal theology, but his often misunderstood program of demythologization took him in a radically different direction from Barth. In many respects Bultmann set the agenda for biblical theology in the decades following World War II. This volume concentrates on the key texts and ideas in Bultmann's thought. It presents the essential Bultmann for students and the general reader. Roger Johnson's introductory essay and notes on the selected texts set Bultmann in his historical context, chart the development of his thought, and indicate the significance of his theology in the development of Christian theology as a whole. Substantial selections from Bultmann's work illustrate key God as "Wholly Other" Jesus and the Eschatological Kingdom Existentialist interpretation Kerygma Faith and Modernity in conflict controversial slogan and theological focus

Genres: Theology

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 1973

About the author

Rudolf Karl Bultmann (August 20, 1884, Wiefelstede – July 30, 1976, Marburg) was a German Lutheran theologian and professor of New Testament at the University of Marburg. He was one of the major figures of early 20th century biblical studies and a prominent voice in liberal Christianity.

Bultmann is known for his belief that the historical analysis of the New Testament is both futile and unnecessary, given that the earliest Christian literature showed little interest in specific locations.] Bultmann argued that all that matters is the "thatness", not the "whatness" of Jesus, i.e. only that Jesus existed, preached and died by crucifixion matters, not what happened throughout his life.

Bultmann relied on demythologization, an approach interpreting the mythological elements in the New Testament existentially. Bultmann contended that only faith in the kerygma, or proclamation, of the New Testament was necessary for Christian faith, not any particular facts regarding the historical Jesus.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well crafted selection from the 'Making of Modern Theology' series. Although I occasionally found some of the writings hard going, by the time I finished I felt like I knew Bultmann well enough to understand references to his thought by other theologians, and where to start if I wanted to go deeper with Bultmann.