‘Some historical element is not only admissible but is in fact essential, without it New Testament Theology will hardly escape degeneration into a collection of texta probantia. And the historian must not scorn the contribution of philosophical questioning to supplement his historical criticism. He who is master of both history and theology will write the greatest New Testament theology’.
C.K. Barrett, ‘Historia Theologiae Genetrix,’ in Aufgabe und Durchführung einer Theologie des Neuen Testaments, eds. C. Breytenbach and J. Frey (WUNT 205; Tübingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 2007), 205-6.
2 comments:
Absolutely! This quote made me think of my experience at this years Tyndale Fellowship when Martin Hengel was discussed. One of the requiring issues that stood out for me was Hengel's uncompromising Evangelical faith on the one hand, and his ruthless insistence on historical research on the other. One person commented that Hengel once said that he is an Evangelical because he is a Christian and a liberal because the truth will set you free.
Hengel (and Barrett) will continue to challenge both Evangelicals and Liberals alike to take both faith and history serious.
Great Quote. Barrett is one of my favorite exegetes. He also had the sense to reject the NPP.
Post a Comment