Kerygma and Myth: A Theological Debate

by Rudolf Karl Bultmann, Hans-Werner Bartsch, Reginald H. Fuller

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Religion, Christianity

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Rudolf Karl Bultmann (August 20, 1884, Wiefelstede – July 30, 1976, Marburg) was a German Lutheran theologian and professor of New Testament at the University of Marburg. He was one of the major figures of early 20th century biblical studies and a prominent voice in liberal Christianity.

Bultmann is known for his belief that the historical analysis of the New Testament is both futile and unnecessary, given that the earliest Christian literature showed little interest in specific locations.] Bultmann argued that all that matters is the "thatness", not the "whatness" of Jesus, i.e. only that Jesus existed, preached and died by crucifixion matters, not what happened throughout his life.

Bultmann relied on demythologization, an approach interpreting the mythological elements in the New Testament existentially. Bultmann contended that only faith in the kerygma, or proclamation, of the New Testament was necessary for Christian faith, not any particular facts regarding the historical Jesus.

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL THEOLOGICAL ESSAYS OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976) was a German theologian and professor of New Testament at the University of Marburg. He also wrote books such as 'The History of the Synoptic Tradition,' 'Jesus and the Word,' 'The Presence of Eternity,' etc.

His 1941 essay "New Testament and Mythology" famously begins, "The cosmology of the New Testament is essentially mythical in character. The world is viewed as a three-storied structure, with the earth in the centre, the heaven above, and the underworld beneath. Heaven is the abode of God and celestial beings--the angels. The underworld is hell, the place of torment. Even the earth is more than the scene of natural, everyday events ... It is the scene of the supernatural activity of God and his angels on the one hand, and of Satan and his demons on the other. These supernatural forces intervene in the course of nature and in all that men think and will and do. Miracles are by no means rare... (The) end will come very soon, and will take the form of a cosmic catastrophe. It will be inaugurated by the `woes' of the last time. Then the Judge will come from heaven, the dead will rise, the last judgment will take place, and men will enter into eternal salvation or damnation."

He then asks, "Can Christian preaching expect modern man to accept the mythical view of the world as true? To do so would be both senseless and impossible. It would be senseless, because there is nothing specifically Christian in the mythical view of the world as such. It is simply the cosmology of a pre-scientific age." He argues that "An Existentialist interpretation is the only solution," and outlines a program for "demythologizing the New Testament."

His essay has five critical appraisals (including one by Helmut Thielicke), followed by responses by Bultmann. In the essay, "Bultmann Replies to His Critics," he states, "The Bible not only shows me, like other historical documents, a possible way of understanding my own existence, a way which I am free to accept or reject: more than that, it assumes the shape of a word which addresses me personally." He adds, "Our radical attempt to demythologize the New Testament is in fact a perfect parallel to St. Paul's and Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone apart from the works of the Law."

Whether one agrees with Bultmann or not, his essay and the responses in this book will be "must reading" for students of contemporary theology, etc.

[Michael Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reprinting of Bultmann's 1941 essay, "The New Testament and Mythology," including five responses to it and two responses by Bultmann to his critics' essays, "Kerygma and Myth" is a gold mine of challenging ideas and most excellent quotations on the merits and demerits of Biblical Christianity. It's a chewy read, like the sort of sticky caramel that threatens to pull your fillings out of your teeth. Bultmann and his peers were deep into a sophisticated and nuanced theology one does not encounter among our current surplus of evangelical apologists or the ascendant wing of Roman Catholics that seem intent on stealing the Religious Right's conservative credentials. Fascinating stuff.

All that said, I find it striking that these essays were written and presented at meetings in Germany during the Second World War. It is strange to me that these men of faith applied their prodigious talents and energies to go at each other with philosophical and theological hammer and tongs while their government was grinding all of Europe and North Africa under its boot and building extermination camps. Of course they all seem to have survived the war, unlike their coreligionist Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

[Damian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bultmann was not the first to point out the mythical character of the New Testament. Critics of Christianity, as well as ancient, medieval, and Liberal theologians had already done that. Bultmann’s novelty and wisdom lay in his recognition that myth is the irreplaceable language of religion and that, to retain the powerful message of the myth, one must "demythologize" or, as Paul Tillich put it, “deliteralize” — the NT. Liberal theologians, like Herrmann, von Harnack, Ritschl, saw fit simply to subtract the myth and focus on what was left: ethics, piety, morality. But Bultmann saw this as reductionistic.
Bultmann focused on the role of myth as encapsulating the particular self-understanding of the community that held the myth. Thus, myths could be demythologized to reveal the society’s perception of its own place in the world. Many myths are about the dependable cyclical continuation of the familiar: the gods recreate the world and give it new stability every year. Other myths attached to rituals of rebirth and salvation. Some myths are about grace while others tell at once of a consciousness of oppression and the thrill of new freedom and maturity. The kernel of myth is the existential self-understanding of those who tell and live the myth.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a difficult read. Bultmann introduces his idea of faith; a faith interpreted through the eyes of existentialist philosophy. Bultmann believes that faith and God, the cross and resurrection, are relevant only as to how it affects us in the present. To Bultmann, the historical event has no real validity if we do not encounter it in the present.

While there are some facets of Bultmann's argument that enhances the idea of faith, his ideas can be construed as an argument against the historical reality of things such as the virgin birth, the resurrection, etc. Bultmann seems to be catering to the modern man and his world view, as well as esteeming the scientific world view as being better than the mythological world view of the first century Christians. His ideas in this book sparked a controversy that is still ongoing in the church today.

I highly recommend the book, but do read it with a conscientious eye. It took me quite a bit to get used to the language and also to feel as though I was comprehending what Bultmann and the other critics were saying. Its worth the effort and once you begin to understand, it becomes an interesting and profitable read.

[JD Veer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I only read the 40+ pages that Bultmann wrote (and not the five critics) so I'll only be judging that.

I expected to give it 1 star, but it wasn't all bad. Other than the excruciating fact that he disavowed the resurrection, a central piece of the historic faith, there was some good insight! The 40+ pages were a hard read, be sure of that, but I got in touch with some of the most brilliant theologically liberal world.

I'd still recommend, but with caution and wisdom.

[Arthur George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book containing Bultmann's essay setting forth his demythologization theory, followed by criticisms by several other (German) scholars and Bultmann's responses. It tees up the issues nicely and enables the reader to take a position on the debate. In this English language edition, I would have liked a fuller bibliography of English language publications; the one offered was almost entirely in German.

[Andrew Flick-Shriner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating take on the nature and role of the proclamation of the faith. I was surprised by how pastoral Bultmann’s motivation is (solely because of the negative way I have heard his theology presented). While I can’t give up a belief in the literal, physical resurrection of Christ, Bultmann’s argument does make me believe that one can do so while still being a Christian.

[Alan Swartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerygma and Myth: A Theological Debate by Rudolf Bultmann (1961)

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written heresy

[Scott D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most intellectually provocative work on Christian theology that I have read in the past 20 years. A dense, difficult read but highly worth the effort.