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.

Some scholars criticized Bultmann and other critics for excessive skepticism regarding the historical reliability of the gospel narratives. Similar traditionalist defenses are reflected in the Wikipedia entry Historicity of Jesus Christ. The full impact of Bultmann was not felt until the English publication of Kerygma and Mythos (in 1948).

The ensuing controversy led to several instances of heresy trials against schools teaching Bultmann's ideas. (Bultmann's ideas were written in German). Theologians' convictions held that the stories of Jesus were absolute undeniable history. The memory of things said and done, as recorded in the gospels, must be "what really happened" was beyond question. The gospels and their literary forms and redactions had moved into the field of the critical ancient historian and literary critic. Those who "know what really happened" in the remote, ill-documented, ancient past theologians became and are still very uncomfortable.

External Resources:

• 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