Emancipation, Developments and Aims of Critical New Testament Exegesis from the Beginnings of Liberalism to the Postmodern Era: From J. P. Gabler to M. Borg
Abstract
The study deals with the birth and development of critical New Testament theology and exegesis since the beginning of theological liberalism until postmodernism. The first part of the study provides considerations of postmodernism, hermeneutics and approach to the text at the time of postmodernism.
Mentioned are the opinions of J.-F. Lyotard, J.
Derrida, M. Foucault, P.
K. Feyerabend, T.
S. Kuhn, P.
Ricoeur, H.-G. Gadamer, W.
Isser and H. R.
Jauss. The following sections are devoted to developments in the field of New Testament theology.
Pivotal role in the independence of biblical theology from dogmatic and systematic theology was played by J. P.
Gabler. His ideas and concepts are explained.
This path was followed by a number of followers, all of whom are further discussed: D. F.
Strauss, F. C.
Baur, H. J.
Holtzmann, W. Herrmann, E.
Troeltsch, W. Wrede, breakthrough personalities such as J.
Weiss and A. Schweitzer, specificly R.
Bultmann, revising E. Käsemann and the old apocalyptic paradigm refusing M.
J. Borg and Jesus Seminar.
The last part of the study focuses on M. Borg discussing his position and concept of the non-apocalyptic Jesus.
The reaction of M. Kähler against Leben-Jesu-Forschung is also discussed.
M. Kähler criticized this research from the position of a systematic theologian and expressed disagreement with the effort to construct only the historical Jesus, which according to him will always be incomplete.
The conclusion of this study provides a revision of the progress of New Testament exegesis and demands the need for academic freedom for theological research at universities.