Rudolf (Karl) Bultmann - Selected works

Lutheran theologian, Hellenist, and New Testament scholar, born in Wiefelstede, NW Germany. He studied at Tübingen, taught at Marburg, Wroc?aw, (formerly Breslau, Prussia), and Giessen, then became professor of New Testament at Marburg (1921). An early exponent of form criticism (History of the Synoptic Tradition, 1921) he is best known for his highly influential programme (1941) to ‘demythologize’ the New Testament and interpret it existentially, employing the categories of the earlier work of Heidegger.

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. 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 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.

Some scholars criticized Bultmann and other critics for excessive skepticism regarding the historical reliability of the gospel narratives.

Selected works

Die Geschichte der synoptischen Tradition (1921, 1931) History of the Synoptic Tradition, Harper San Francisco, 1976, ISBN 0-06-061172-3 (seminal work on form criticism) Jesus (1926) Jesus Christ and Mythology, Prentice Hall, 1997, ISBN 0-02-305570-7 Neues Testament und Mythologie (1941) The New Testament and Mythology and Other Basic Writings, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1984, ISBN 0-8006-2442-4 Kerygma and Myth by Rudolf Bultmann and Five Critics (1953) London: S.P.C.K., HarperCollins 2000 edition: ISBN 0-06-130080-2, 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 0-664-20893-2 Theologie des Neuen Testaments (1948–53) Theology of the New Testament: Complete in One Volume, Prentice Hall, 1970, ISBN 0-02-305580-4 Das Urchristentum im Rahmen der Antiken Religionen (1949) Primitive Christianity in Its Comtemporary Setting, Thames and Hudson, 1956. 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. Bultmann responds that modern scientific analysis of the text is required to separate the genuine from the miraculous claims, thereby revealing the true message.