Rudolf Bultmann

Rudolf Karl Bultmann (August 20, 1884 - July 30, 1976) was a German theologian of Lutheran background, who was for three decades professor of New Testament studies at the University of Marburg. His History of the Synoptic Tradition (1921) is still highly regarded as an essential tool for gospel research, even by scholars who reject his analyses of the conventional rhetorical tropes or narrative units of which the Gospels are assembled, and the historically-oriented principles called "form criticism," of which Bultmann has been the most influential exponent:

"The aim of form-criticism is to determine the original form of a piece of narrative, a dominical saying or a parable. In the process we learn to distinguish secondary additions and forms, and these in turn lead to important results for the history of the tradition."

In 1941, he applied form criticism to the Gospel of John, in which he distinguished the presence of a lost Signs Gospel on which John, alone of the evangelists, depended. His monograph was highly controversial. The same year his lecture New Testament and Mythology: The Problem of Demythologizing the New Testament Message called on interpreters to replace traditional theology with the existential philosophy of Bultmann's colleague, Martin Heidegger, an endeavor to make accessible to a literate modern audience the reality of Jesus' teachings. Bultmann remained convinced the narratives of the life of Jesus were offering theology in story form. Lessons were taught in the familiar language of myth. They were not to be excluded, but given explanation so they could be understood for today. Bultmann thought faith should become a present day reality. To Bultmann, the people of the world appeared to be always in disappointment and turmoil. Faith must be a determined vital act of will, not a culling and extolling of "ancient proofs".

Some scholars criticized Bultmann and other critics for excessive skepticism regarding the historical reliability of the gospel narratives. The full impact of Bultmann was not felt until the English publication of Kerygma and Mythos (in 1948).

Ernst Käsemann and Günther Bornkamm were amongst his students.

Selected works

Die Geschichte der synoptischen Tradition (1921, 1931)
- History of the Synoptic Tradition, Harper San Francisco, 1976, ISBN 0060611723 (seminal work on form criticism)
Jesus (1926)
- Jesus Christ and Mythology, Prentice Hall, 1997, ISBN 0023055707
Neues Testament und Mythologie (1941)
- The New Testament and Mythology and Other Basic Writings, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1984, ISBN 0800624424
- Kerygma and Myth by Rudolf Bultmann and Five Critics (1953) London: S.P.C.K., HarperCollins 2000 edition: ISBN 0061300802, online edition (contains the essay "The New Testament and Mythology" with critical analyses and Bultmann's response)
Das Evangelium des Johannes (1941)
- The Gospel of John: A Commentary, Westminster John Knox Press, 1971, ISBN 0664208932
Theologie des Neuen Testaments (1948–53)
- Theology of the New Testament: Complete in One Volume, Prentice Hall, 1970, ISBN 0023055804
Das Urchristentum im Rahmen der Antiken Religionen (1949)
- Primitive Christianity in Its Comtemporary Setting, Thames and Hudson, 1956.
Religion without Myth (coauthored with Karl Jaspers) (1954)
- Myth & Christianity: An Inquiry Into The Possibility Of Religion Without Myth, translation 1958 by Noonday Press, Prometheus Books, 2005, ISBN 1591022916. In this dialogue with philosopher Jaspers, Jaspers first makes the case that Christianity can not be understood apart from its mythical framework, and that myth is necessary form of communication through symbol. Bultman responds that modern scientific analysis of the text is required to separate the genuine from the miraculous claims, thereby revealing the true message.
History and Eschatology: The Presence of Eternity (1954–55 Gifford lectures), Harper, 1962 ,Greenwood Publishers, 1975: ISBN 0837181232

References

New Jerome Biblical Commentary Edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmeyer, and Roland E. Murphy, Prentice Hall 1990, update of 1968 edition, See P 1137-1139, Modern New Testament Criticism- John S. Kselman and Ronald D. Witherup

R. Bultmann, Existence and Faith. Shorter Writings of Rudolf Bultmann, edited and translated by S. M. Ogden, London, 1961, (Meridian Books in USA)
R. Bultmann, Jesus and the Word, translated by L. P. Smith and E. H. Lantero, London, 1952.
R. Bultmann, New Testament and Mythology and Other Writings, edited and translated by S. M. Ogden, London, 1984
D. Fergusson, Bultmann, London, 1992
Edgar V. McKnight, What is Form Criticism (Guides to Biblical Scholarship, New Testament Series) Fortress Press, 1969

External links

Rutgers University's Synoptic Gospels Primer has a brief biography and further links.
wWsley Wildman, "Rudolf Bultmann": analysis of themes: God as Wholly Other; Existentialist interpretations; demythologization
Some online texts and resources
John C. McDowell, Girton College, Cambridge: "Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976)": brief introductory essay
Heinrich Fries: Bultmann-Barth and Catholic theology
John F. McCarthy, Modernism in the Demythologizing of Rudolf Bultmann, Living Tradition, No. 112, July 2004

John F. McCarthy, The Incomplete Response of Catholic Theologians to the Demythologizing of Rudolf Bultmann (1999):

1884 births | 1976 deaths | Lutherans | Biblical scholars | German theologians

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Selected works

References

External links