Biblical studies

The term Biblical Theology describes the following task fields of Christian theology:

  • The theology that can be found in the biblical texts, ie the theology of each biblical author
  • The theology of the New Testament in the light of the Old Testament
  • The presentation of the biblical statements concerning the biblical canon ( Biblical dogmatics, "canonical approach")

The goal is to understand the entire Bible as a theological unity. The main problem of every Biblical theology is the definition of the relationship between the Old and New Testament.

  • 5.1 launches
  • 5.2 Current designs and approaches (selection)
  • 5.3 History of Biblical Theology
  • 5.4 The oldest sources for the history of biblical theology
  • 5.5 Criticism of the Biblical Theology

Origin of Biblical Theology

For the first time met the mid-17th century an independent biblical theology ( theologia biblica ) at the Lutheran theologian Georg Calixtus. He deliberately excluded from the dogmatic theology ( theologia dogmatica ) and scholastic theology. The Biblical Theology wants as philological interpretation of texts with him form a critical counterpart to dogmatic theology. During the 18th century, the Biblical Theology established as a counterweight to a supposed Hellenization and Scholastisierung theology throughout church history. Therefore, there is also the claim of a "pure " biblical theology. Mention should be especially Altdorfer inaugural lecture of Johann Philipp Gabler in 1787.

The development of the philological methods of historical study of the Bible strengthened the independent character of biblical theology in the 19th century. The liberal theology focused on the historical- critical reconstruction of the historic core of the biblical writings.

On the practice of philological and historical interpretation of the biblical texts see also: Biblical exegesis

The theological content of the biblical texts

The historical- critical study of biblical texts is a prerequisite for the reconstruction of the theology of the individual biblical books and their authors. Thus, for example, reconstructed a theology of Paul, or a theology of pastoral letters. The term Biblical Theology can also stand as a total for the different divergent theologies of the biblical books or authors.

Ultimately, it is not possible to verify the authenticity of the biblical texts scientifically. However, one can examine the biblical texts on their historicity out.

Canonical access and Biblical dogmatics

The original intent of the biblical theology was to bring the special position of the Bible as Holy Scripture in theology and faith against a dogmatic patronizing and philosophical theology überfremdeten back to the forefront. Through the further development of philological methods towards the historical-critical study of the biblical texts biblical theology, this task can no longer meet but. Under the eye of the critical researcher the unity of the biblical text is divided into a variety of theological statements. This presents particular Protestant theology, in whose context the term has its origin problems, since the principle of Scripture presupposes an inner connection of the biblical texts. Against this background arise in the 20th century, new approaches to biblical theology, which stresses emanating from the substantive unity of the biblical canon. At the same time, these approaches go but out of the historical-critical interpretation and try in addition to the diversity of biblical statements bring out the unity in the texts and present.

Brevard S. Childs

The American theologian and exegete Brevard S. Childs has addressed this problem: He is considered the founder of the canonical approach ( canonical access ). In his Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testament, he tries to interpret the biblical texts in their canonical context. He starts from the historical-critical study of the texts, but looking at the present in the canon final form of the text than the theologically binding version of the text. Therefore, its interpretation through the entire reconstruction of the oral and written history of the text to its reception and placement in the biblical canon.

Tübingen School

In the German theology especially the " Tübingen School " (Peter Stuhlmacher, Hartmut Gese, etc.) tries to read the biblical texts in total biblical context. Unlike Childs Stuhlmacher die and go but from the religious-historical connections between the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, the study of the time between the testaments, ie the formation and development of Judaism after the exile, a special significance.

Theological justifications for the unity of the Bible

In contrast to these largely in the exegetical remaining approaches Friedrich Mildenberger has emphasized that the unity of the biblical canon under the conditions of historical-critical exegesis can not be simply taken for granted, but requires a theological justification. Mildenberger engages in this connection back to approaches of Lutheran orthodoxy that established the unity and authority of Scripture from its healing effectiveness. The biblical texts are only perceived as a unit when they bring forth faith. Therefore, is a Biblical Theology believing understanding of the biblical texts in the everyday practice of faith ahead ( Mildenberger speaks of the simple speech of God of believers ) and reflects this understanding to his theological structure out. Biblical theology is seen only as a Biblical dogmatics.

A theological foundation of the unity of the biblical canon is also taking the Old Testament Meik Gerhards. This is justified by recourse to the " philosophy of religion " by Heinrich Scholz ( 1922) from a religious experience that the Bible is Holy Scripture in the sense of a revelation medium ( medium of self -disclosure of God ). In religious experience Bible opens up the unity of the Holy Scriptures, with the manifest in Christ bestowing God as " authorial center " of scripture proves (formulated in connection to Ludger Schwienhorst - Schönberger ). At this center can be drawn from the historical- critical researched texts from lines of flight in order to make clear the theological significance of the texts. It can also be done by the texts are considered among current issues. The current concern then determine with the historical-critical questions that will be addressed to the text. Also corresponding to the extent that the experience grounds of revelation nature of the Bible, as the major Bible experiences of church history that are associated with names like Augustine, Martin Luther, Johann Georg Hamann and Karl Barth, have emerged from a use of the Bible, which determines existential questions had. Gerhards want to run " Biblical theology " as a "bridge discipline " between exegesis and dogmatic theology or practical theology; it is the theological access to Sacred Scripture with the founded on religious experience - just as indispensable - historical- critical approach to be connected. An overall design is not yet available; as a model case, the theology of creation was presented based on biblical- theological work to Genesis 1.

Pictures of Biblical studies

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