What Is Theology?

by Rudolf Karl Bultmann

s/tA New Agenda for Theology
From 1926 to 1936 Rudolf Bultmann offered an introductory course in theology, which he continually revised and refined. Finally published posthumously, and now available in English for the first time, WHAT IS THEOLOGY? presents a clear compendium of the theology of a member of one of this century's rare number of giant scholars.

Genres: Theology

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 1997

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

[George Plasterer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

For someone interested in bultman this provides a good entry into his thought that will be different from the usual!