barthandbulttmansr

8/19/2019 BarthandBulttmanSR

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CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

The thought of an almighty God revealing Himself to man is both inconceivable and

inescapable Revelation! God"s personal communicating of Himself to His creatures! #ho #ould

other#ise have no $no#ledge of His presence or plan! provides several seemingly confusing

concepts #hich challenge serious thought God is unseen physically! but He is present here and

beyond the realm of space and time %hile God"s capacity surpasses any limitation! His intimacy

and personal involvement can be traced to the inner most part of man He has revealed Himself

to man$ind in both general and specific #ays &till! a thorough e'planation of His personhood

#ould be ine'pressible to human thought %hile general revelation is e(ually important! this

research #ill be limited to God"s special revelation of Himself to man$ind The claim that special

revelation ma$es is that God has sho#n or made Himself $no#n )at specific times and to

specific peoples*+ God has specifically or particularly revealed Himself in many #ays

Ho#ever! for the purpose of this paper!

1 Thiessen, Henry. Lectures in Systematic Theology . Grand Rapids, Michigan:

William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 199, 1!.

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the follo#ing three means of revelation #ill be e'amined, the inspiration of &cripture! the

incarnation of Christ! and the personal e'perience of man

-oth .arl -arth and Rudolf -ultmann #ere very influential on modern theology

-ultmann has been called )the greatest Ne# Testament scholar of the t#entieth century* by

some! #hile -arth attempted to be a recogni/able alternative to the radical theology of -ultmann

-arth"s theology #as culminated in his greatest contribution! Church Dogmatics0 -arth #as

some#hat concerned because of the influential effect -ultmann"s theology seemed to carry and

the lasting results his theology #ould inevitably have on the church1

&ee$ing a greater understanding of the theological positions of -arth and -ultmann on

the sub2ect of God"s special revelation should prove to be insightful %hile an understanding of

the foundational precepts of these models is imperative! the researcher #ill also search the

frame#or$ and attempt to e'plore their vie#s on a broader scale! including their differences and

commonalities 3a2or influences on and effects of their vie#s on the #hole of the doctrine of

revelation in modern theology #ill also be e'plored

" Perrin, #$rman. The Promise of Bultmann. #e% &$r': (.B. )ippinc$** +$mpany,

199, 11.- Green, +li$rd. Karl Barth: Theologian of Freedom. Minneap$lis: /$r*ress

Press, 1991, "1.

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CHAPTER T%O

RE4E5AT6ON, THE 6N&P6RAT6ON O7 &CR6PT8RE

General

The #ritings of the Old and Ne# Testament #ere divinely revealed through the

inspiration of the Holy &pirit Paul! himself! claimed to have been given the gospel from God He

and the apostles #ere not teaching their o#n opinion 6nstead! they spo$e a message direct from

God9 This combination of inspiration and revelation is named )concursive* inspiration by

Eric$son! describing the merging of the t#o divine acts into one at the point of &cripture )As

authors of &cripture #rote! God placed #ithin their minds the thoughts he #ished

communicated*:

Rudolf Bultmann

Rudolf -ultmann"s vie# of the Ne# Testament #as that of an obsolete piece of irrational

literature! meaningless in a modern conte't of society He believed that in order to find a )$ernel

of eternal truth hidden #ithin the mythological hus$* of the Ne# Testament! the reader #as

forced to penetrate the #ritten %ord to find the contemporary revelation of God to man$ind;

7rom -ultmann"s theological standpoint there #as little hope for any direct revelation of God

from the -ible God"s #ord to man #as veiled or hidden from vie# or immediate reach

Therefore! God #as not revealed but concealed by human #ords and limited by the human

sphere in #hich it #as present -ultmann has asserted that statements made by men in the

Enns, Paul. The Moddy Handbook of Theology . +hicag$: M$$dy Press, 1909, 0-. Eric's$n, Millard (. Christian Theology . "nd ed. Grand Rapids: Ba'er B$$'s,

190-, "1-. Gren2, ). Miller and 3*anley. Contemorary Theologies. Minneap$lis: /$r*ress

Press, 1990, ".

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scriptural te'ts should not be considered as legitimate as the direct statements from Christ

Himself because these human statements #ould be clouded by a carnal opinion and personalityesus Christ %hile he did not hold to the complete inerrancy of &cripture! -arth

#as convinced that )the elimination of the human relativity of the -ible may lead to the

elimination of the very thing the -ible #as intended to bear #itness to, the revelation of God*?

8nli$e -ultmann! -arth felt that the human aspect of inspiration #as not only beneficial! but

perhaps imperative -arthian theology #ent through stages! including a turn during the Great

%ar #hich brought a greater focus on revelation -arth concluded that the #ritten %ord had only

4 ($hns$n, R$ger 5. !udolf Bultmann: "nterretating Faith for the Modern #ra.

Minneap$lis: /$r*ress Press, 1991, 1-.0 Pain*er, ($hn. The $rigins of %emythologi&ing . 5us*ralian Biblical Re6ie%,

Re6 --, 7c*$ber 190, p "81.9 Gren2, 1.


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one theological interest! and on this issue he offered no compromise The one interest of the

-ible is in God Himself+@

Ho#ever! part of this interest in the person of God is His desire to reveal Himself specifically to

man$ind )-arth appealed to the totali/ing sufficiency of God"s revelation in the %ord*++ He

found Himself in the center of a debate bet#een t#o opposing sides -arth"s doctrine of the

threefold %ord did not fully comply #ith either of the opposing opinions He claimed that

revelation! scripture! and preaching #ere all in one )the %ord* of God! )trinity in unity*+0 The

Protestant scholastics attempted to minimi/e the importance of God"s #ritten %ord by doubting

the validity of the humanity of the #ord! but -arth accused the orthodo' dogmatists of re2ecting

revelation itself by obscuring )the hiddenness of God"s revelation in scripture* He credited them

#ith creating a paper pope by reducing revelation to the #ords in scripture +1 %hile -arth! unli$e

-ultmann! held to the total inspiration of scripture! he did not feel the notion of an inerrant te't

#as necessary or #arranted for the purposes of divine revelation+9

1! $rrien, Gary. The Barthian !e'olt in Modern Theology . )$uis6ille, &:

Wes*mins*er ($hn n$; Press, "!!!, 4!841.11 $rrien, 44.1"


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CHAPTER THREE

RE4E5AT6ON, THE 6NCARNAT6ON O7 CHR6&T

General

The pinnacle of special revelation lies in the Godman! >esus the Christ! #ho offered man

a revelation of Almighty God"s e'istence! nature! and #ill >esus #as not only sent by God! he

#as God in flesh present #ith man He is the most verifiable proof for God"s e'istence in the

history of man! having lived a perfect life among men )The revelation of God in Christ is the

most profound fact in history and deserves the most careful consideration*+:

Rudolf Bultmann

-ultmann"s understanding of divine revelation in the person of >esus Christ #as

undoubtedly clouded by his e'clusively e'istential paradigm He sa# >esus as a verifiable

historical figure #ho #as truly crucified upon a Roman cross! but -ultmann could never accept

Him as the actual &on of God #ho came to pay our sin debt literally He #as convinced that the

greatest need #as not to believe the fact of the historical events of Christ

1 Thiessen, 181.


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Rather! the crucial matter of faith for -ultmann #as the e'perience of the message of the Christ

Needless to say! he also refuted the literal resurrection and ascension of >esus as #ell+; -ultmann

sa# the record of Christ"s life as a mi'ture of actual history and unrealistic myth Ho#ever! this

German theologian seems to be easy to misunderstand 7or e'ample! he considered Christ"s

death on the cross )the event in #hich God has chosen finally to reveal himself* +esus #as part of the revelation of God to man$ind! but the

e'tent of his conviction is undoubtedly confused He felt that )the idea of a pree'istent son of

God #ho enters the #orld to redeem humans is dra#n from Gnosticism*+= -ultmann #as not

concerned #ith the )historical >esus* that so many scholars #ere see$ing to discover He could

not trust historical record because it al#ays held potential for contamination by human sources+?

3uch of his reluctance #ith God"s revelation through the incarnation #as a direct result of his

vie# of scripture %ith a lo# standard of validity of the historicity of the gospel record!

-ultmann had little foundation on #hich to stand #hen referring to Christ His theology is

ama/ing due to its lac$ of divinity and biblical confirmation

Karl Barth

According to -arthian theology! )the hidden God is apprehended indirectly in Christ*

Ho#ever! no continual relationship or communication bet#een God and man e'ists He sa#

>esus as the divinely positioned crossroads of $no#n time and un$no#n eternity! #here

humanity met deity temporarily0@ This meeting bet#een God and man #as dependent entirely on

the &on of God 3an could not reach nor learn anything about God personally #ithout His act of

1 Gren2, .14 Perrin, 9.10 Gren2, 1.19 ($hns$n, 9894."! Gren2, 1.

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revelation God #as selfrevealed in the person of >esus! the %ord Through the %ord! the

un$no#able God entered the #orld in a $no#able! conceivable form0+

At its inception! -arthian theology #as closely paralleled by -ultmann on the issue of the

Easter event 8nli$e -ultmann! -arth did affirm the resurrection as a real ob2ective event in his

latter years According to -arth! the incarnation of Christ alone is the path to true $no#ledge of

God00 6f the hidden God has not revealed himself in Christ! then the #orld has not been

reconciled to God This human being! $no#n a >esus of Na/areth! #as not only the &on of God!

but he #as )the eternal %ord of God!* God in flesh -arth #as #illing to credit full deity to the

physical man >esus! refusing to consider the e'clusively e'istential option of -ultmann"s

theology01 -arth summed up his stand (uite simply by stating that! )BThe Christ is the revelation

of God" And here 6 confess that 6 simply do not understand him*09

"1 Har*, 1-."" >ia$eng, )iu. +hinese The$l$gical Re6ie%.)od is )od: "n Memory of Karl

Barth, 1909, 4."- Green, "!18"!"." ($hns$n, !.

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CHAPTER 7O8R

RE4E5AT6ON, THE PER&ONA5 EPER6ENCE O7 3AN

General

Personal e'perience can be ignored or abused #hen spea$ing of special revelation &ome

go to an e'treme vie# of total e'periential revelation! #hile others say e'perience means very

little Ho#ever! personal e'perience is undeniably the most essential aspect of the inspiration of

scripture0: 3iracles! personal relationship! and spiritual gro#th are all aspects of this channel of

communication from God to man God can and #ants to be sought after! not in symbolism but

e'perience )6saiah ::,;++Dsays to see$ God B#hile He may be found" because it is one of

God"s #ays to ma$e Himself available*0;

Rudolf Bultmann

The special revelation of the hidden God is not )$no#able* by man! being grasped in

limited #ords or propositions 6nstead! -ultmann said it is continually opened up to ne# heights

and depths! enlightening man0


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-arthian theological concept of a one time revelation )&carcely is he $no#n than he again

disappears and #e once more stand in the presence of the un$no#n God! #ith #hom #e must

#restle ane# till he gives himself to be $no#n and spea$s his name*0= %hile -ultmann #ent too

far #ith the e'istentialistic vie#! there is much validity to the e'perience of God revealed to man

An affirmation of faith to many! e'perience is common on some level to all #ho believe in God

Every child of God has e'perienced God in some respect )God is $no#n to faith as one #ho is

encountered* %hile one"s e'perience cannot be denied! it also lac$s proof for affirmative

conclusion0? -ultmann"s theology has influenced even the most conservative of denominations

in recent years The )criterion controversy* among the &outhern -aptists is one such e'ample At

the root of this issue #as the conflict bet#een the actual #ords of scripture and the past

e'perience of the reader of scripture One"s understanding of #ho >esus is based on their

e'perience #as placed in contrast to the biblical standard Those #ho hold to -ultmann"s vie# of

the inspiration of scripture! #ould claim that e'periential understanding of >esus holds more

validity than the biblical te'ts They #ould absolutely re2ect the scriptures absolute authority and

the totality of divine inspiration %hile this issue seems rather ne# to some! its root can be

follo#ed bac$ for many years1@

Karl Barth

-arth #as not #illing to #al$ far do#n the road of e'periential revelation He did see

>esus and history as being ob2ective to one"s e'perience to a degree! but he sa# no possible

compatibility bet#een the reality of 2ustification in Christ and location in human e'perience The

2ustification event #as an uncontrollable election made concrete in God"s revelation through

"0 ($hns$n, 9."9 3*agg, /ran'. Polarities of Human #+istence in Biblical Persecti'e. 3mi*h

and Hel%ys Publishing, Mac$n, G5, 199, 9--! The Batist Faith and Message, "!!!.

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Christ Placing the emphasis on human e'perience rather than divine intervention offers undue

credit to man1+ 3an"s e'istence! through e'perience is moving for#ard through e'istential

choices! to#ard a final! culminant essence! of Christli$eness10 &o concrete revelation for -arth

cannot be found in a personal e'perience #ith God! a mythological sphere! or a $no#ledge of

God"s future intent Rather! the verifiable historical record of >esus is -arth"s source of choice11

-arth seemed to vie# man"s limited e'perience #ith God as a result of revelation more than a

means by #hich revelation is received

-1 Har*, !81.-" 3*agg, 9.-- Har*, 0.

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CONC58&6ON

Revelation! the ans#er to man"s problem of ignorance about God! is much more detailed

and diverse than some might thin$ 6n Rudolph -ultmann and .arl -arth the researcher finds

t#o distinct theologies #hen considering the doctrine of special revelation The conclusion has

been made that #hile -arth #as committed to the &cripture to some degree! -ultmann"s

commitment #as tied more to the e'perience of man -arth #as convinced that the biblical

record #as a reliable source for history and verifiable evidence for the Christian e'perience

-ultmann began #ith personal e'perience that he believed #ould help lead the reader to a

greater understanding of the revelation hidden #ithin the &cripture

-oth -arth and -ultmann had some since of >esus being the %ord

&E5ECTEF -6-56OGRAPH

Books

-lac$aby! Henry T The %ays of God, Ho# God Reveals Himself -efore a %atching %orld Nashville, -roadman and Holman Publishers! 0@@@

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-runner! Emil The Christian Doctrine of God: Dogmatics! 4ol + Philadelphia, The%estminster Press! +?9?

Coppedge! Allan Portraits of God: A Biblical Theology of Holiness Fo#ners Grove! 6llinois,

6nter4arsity Press! 0@@+

Forrien! Gary The Barthian Reolt in !odern Theology 5ouisville! .entuc$y, %estminster

>ohn .no' Press! 0@@@

Enns! Paul The !oody Handbook of Theology Chicago, 3oody Press! +?=?

Eric$son! 3illard > Christian Theology! 0d ed Grand Rapids! 3ichigan, -a$er -oo$s!+?=1

Eric$son! 3illard > Introducing Christian Doctrine Grand Rapids! 3ichigan, -a$er -oo$s!+??0

7arley! Gary The Doctrine of God Nashville, Convention Press! +?


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3iller! Ed 5 and &tanley > Gren/ Contem$orary Theologians 3inneapolis, 7ortress Press!+??=

3cConnell! 7rancis The Diiner Immanence Ne# or$, The 3ethodist -oo$ Concern!

+?@;

Perrin! Norman The *romise of Bultmann Ne# or$, >- 5ippincott Company! +?;?

&tagg! 7ran$ *olarities of Human %+istence in Biblical *ers$ectie Revised ed 3acon!

Georgia, &myth and Hel#ys Publishing! +??9

&te#art! 3elville *hiloso$hy of Religion: An Anthology of Contem$orary ,ie"s&udbury! 3assachusetts, >ones and -artlett Publishers! +??;

-ournal Articles

Painter! >ohn The Origins of Femythologi/ing Australian -iblical Revie#! Rev 11! October

+?=:! p 0+9

&tinson! Charles .n the Time/%ternity 0'ink1: 2ome As$ects of Recent Christian

%schatology Religious &tudies! +1! +?%ells! Harold G Karl Barth1s Doctrine of Aalogy Canadian >ournal of Theology! +: >6O!

+?;?! p 0@10+1

iaofeng! 5iu God is God: In memory of Karl Barth Chinese Theological Revie#! +?=?! p

;;


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CONTENT&

CO3PARAT64E EA36NAT6ON O7 GOF"& &PEC6A5 RE4E5AT6ON,

-ARTH ANF -85T3ANN

CHAPTER ONE 6ntroduction

CHAPTER T%O The 6nspiration of &cripture

CHAPTER THREE The 6ncarnation of Christ

CHAPTER 7O8R The Personal E'perience of 3an

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