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The New Testament A history of its interpretation
English, German (translation)
- GenresTheology
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 19, 2012
Kümmel, Werner Georg. The New Testament: The History of Investigation of its Problems. Translated by S. M. Gilmour and H. C. Kee. London: SCM, 1973.
The New Testament: The History of Investigation of its Problems by Werner Georg Kümmel is an attempt to document the “the lines of inquiry and the methods which have proved to be of permanent significance or to anticipate future developments” in the history of New Testament studies through the lens of German scholarship.
Kümmel’s approach is strictly descriptive in summarizing the significant works influencing the field, from Luther’s passion for the literal sense, to the rise of textual criticism, the influence of English deists in creating an atmosphere for the critical study of religion, the consistent eschatology, the rise of biblical theology, Baur’s understanding of early Christianity history, to the modern exegesis and hermeneutics.
The primary problem that the NT study exists to solve, in Kümmel’s understanding, is the “curious inability” of the discipline to be “thoroughly historical in method”—an ongoing struggle on the Christian side to be both accountable of historical-scientific standard and responsive to the divine messages which the NT books contain.
While Kummel strongly emphasizes the indispensable historical character of the NT study, he urges also that the claims of the NT should be included in the scholars’ legitimate interests.
Critiques:
Kümmel is helpful for the English readers to gaze into the German world of the NT biblical scholarship. But it is not surprising that his list is not comprehensive. A few importantant names in the English-speaking world such as J. B. Lightfoot is underplayed or even not mentioned.
In describing the development of the historical methods in the NT study, Kümmel is not too interested in probing deeper in terms of the philosophical or epistemological backgrounds of the new methods. He also withholds himself to provide suggestive solutions to the problem of the historical-scientific method in tension with the claims of NT religion.
The book with the limits above is therefore more informative than profoundly stimulative.
The New Testament: The History of Investigation of its Problems by Werner Georg Kümmel is an attempt to document the “the lines of inquiry and the methods which have proved to be of permanent significance or to anticipate future developments” in the history of New Testament studies through the lens of German scholarship.
Kümmel’s approach is strictly descriptive in summarizing the significant works influencing the field, from Luther’s passion for the literal sense, to the rise of textual criticism, the influence of English deists in creating an atmosphere for the critical study of religion, the consistent eschatology, the rise of biblical theology, Baur’s understanding of early Christianity history, to the modern exegesis and hermeneutics.
The primary problem that the NT study exists to solve, in Kümmel’s understanding, is the “curious inability” of the discipline to be “thoroughly historical in method”—an ongoing struggle on the Christian side to be both accountable of historical-scientific standard and responsive to the divine messages which the NT books contain.
While Kummel strongly emphasizes the indispensable historical character of the NT study, he urges also that the claims of the NT should be included in the scholars’ legitimate interests.
Critiques:
Kümmel is helpful for the English readers to gaze into the German world of the NT biblical scholarship. But it is not surprising that his list is not comprehensive. A few importantant names in the English-speaking world such as J. B. Lightfoot is underplayed or even not mentioned.
In describing the development of the historical methods in the NT study, Kümmel is not too interested in probing deeper in terms of the philosophical or epistemological backgrounds of the new methods. He also withholds himself to provide suggestive solutions to the problem of the historical-scientific method in tension with the claims of NT religion.
The book with the limits above is therefore more informative than profoundly stimulative.
August 21, 2014
A solid, but dull book. Much better to read Schweitzer's book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews