demythologization of the New Testament
E541111
Christian theological concept
New Testament interpretation method
biblical hermeneutical method
theological approach
The demythologization of the New Testament is a theological approach, chiefly associated with Rudolf Bultmann, that seeks to reinterpret the Bible’s mythological language and supernatural elements in terms of existential, modern human experience.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Christian theological concept
ⓘ
New Testament interpretation method ⓘ biblical hermeneutical method ⓘ theological approach ⓘ |
| aimsTo |
express Christian kerygma in existential terms
ⓘ
make New Testament message intelligible to modern people ⓘ reinterpret mythological language ⓘ reinterpret supernatural elements ⓘ |
| appliedTo |
apocalyptic passages
ⓘ
miracle narratives ⓘ resurrection narratives ⓘ |
| appliesTo | New Testament NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Rudolf Bultmann NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| basedOn | existentialist philosophy ⓘ |
| centralConcept |
authentic existence before God
ⓘ
existential decision of faith ⓘ |
| criticizedFor |
alleged reduction of supernatural elements
ⓘ
subjectivizing the biblical message ⓘ |
| debatedIn | contemporary New Testament scholarship ⓘ |
| defendedAs | necessary for modern faith ⓘ |
| developedBy | Rudolf Bultmann NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| discussedIn |
20th-century hermeneutics
ⓘ
New Testament theology NERFINISHED ⓘ systematic theology ⓘ |
| documentedIn | Rudolf Bultmann's essay 'New Testament and Mythology' NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| emergedIn | 20th century ⓘ |
| emergedWithin | Protestant theology NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| focusesOn |
mythological language in the New Testament
ⓘ
supernatural elements in the New Testament ⓘ |
| hasGoal |
to relate the gospel to modern human experience
ⓘ
to uncover the existential meaning of biblical texts ⓘ |
| hasMainProponent | Rudolf Bultmann NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| influenced |
existential interpretation of scripture
ⓘ
later hermeneutical debates ⓘ post-war German theology ⓘ |
| influencedBy | Martin Heidegger's existentialism ⓘ |
| interpretsAs |
apocalyptic imagery as existential language
ⓘ
miracle stories as existential symbols ⓘ myth as expression of human self-understanding ⓘ |
| keyTerm | Entmythologisierung ⓘ |
| language | primarily German ⓘ |
| presupposes | distinction between myth and historical fact ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
existential theology
ⓘ
form criticism ⓘ historical-critical method ⓘ |
| seeksToAddress |
modern scientific worldview
ⓘ
problem of myth in scripture ⓘ |
| seeksToDistinguish | kerygma from myth ⓘ |
| seeksToPreserve | kerygma of the New Testament ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.