The Relationship of Scripture and Tradition in the Light of God’s Revelation
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Elisabeth Maikranz
Abstract
The question of the normativity and thus the critical function of Scripture is an unfinished debate in theology. It is precisely the plurality of biblical writings and inner-biblical traditions that makes an answer difficult. Moreover, different traditions are justified in recourse to the biblical testimony. The chapter adresses the complexity of the processes of tradition within the Bible and starting there it seeks to form an understanding of the critical function of Scripture. To this end, it takes up the debate within the ecumenical movement where a differentiated and comprehensive understanding of tradition has been developed. Compatible with this is the tradition-historical approach of the Lutheran theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. For him, the New Testament record has a normative function, as it is the 'historical source' for the revelation of God in the story of Jesus of Nazareth. It documents the hermeneutical processes through which the first Christians interpreted the life and destiny of Jesus. Taking Pannenberg as a starting point, the chapter reinterprets the critical function of Scripture: The critical function of Scripture cannot be described as a static measure but is rather a dynamic process in which inner-biblical processes of interpretation are translated into the present in order to convey the special significance of the biblical events of revelation.
Abstract
The question of the normativity and thus the critical function of Scripture is an unfinished debate in theology. It is precisely the plurality of biblical writings and inner-biblical traditions that makes an answer difficult. Moreover, different traditions are justified in recourse to the biblical testimony. The chapter adresses the complexity of the processes of tradition within the Bible and starting there it seeks to form an understanding of the critical function of Scripture. To this end, it takes up the debate within the ecumenical movement where a differentiated and comprehensive understanding of tradition has been developed. Compatible with this is the tradition-historical approach of the Lutheran theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. For him, the New Testament record has a normative function, as it is the 'historical source' for the revelation of God in the story of Jesus of Nazareth. It documents the hermeneutical processes through which the first Christians interpreted the life and destiny of Jesus. Taking Pannenberg as a starting point, the chapter reinterprets the critical function of Scripture: The critical function of Scripture cannot be described as a static measure but is rather a dynamic process in which inner-biblical processes of interpretation are translated into the present in order to convey the special significance of the biblical events of revelation.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Foreword VII
- Scripture and Theology in Context: An Introduction 1
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Part 1: Scripture and the Web of Meanings
- An Anthropological Analysis of Ezekiel 13:17–21 35
- Messiahs and Redeemer Figures in Postexilic Texts 57
- Early Divine Christology: Scripture, Narrativity and Confession in Luke-Acts 89
- Why is the New Testament Called “New Testament”? 119
- Disassembling Provenance: Origin Stories and Why They Matter for Scripture 149
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Part 2: The Bible at Work: Historical Case Studies
- Power Dynamics in the Preached Word: A Fourth Century Case Study 165
- Augustine without a Theodicy of a Condemning God 195
- Philosophy in Aquinas’ Exegetical Work and Its Meta-Theological Implications 235
- Hamann between Luther and Hume 261
- Let Everything that Hath Breath Praise the Lord 283
- The Divine Forwards: Karl Barth’s Early Exegesis of the Pauline Epistles 305
- Karl Rahner’s Use of the Bible 327
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Part 3: Informing Theological Discourse: Systematic Perspectives
- Canonical Theology, Social Location and the Search for Global Theological Method 345
- Quadriga without Platonism 375
- Reinventing the Quadriga 397
- The Theological Art of Scriptural Interpretation: Lessons from von Balthasar 415
- The Holy Scriptures as a Recognition- and Witnessing-Authority 433
- The Relationship of Scripture and Tradition in the Light of God’s Revelation 453
- Deriving Theology from Scripture 473
- List of Contributors 487
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Foreword VII
- Scripture and Theology in Context: An Introduction 1
-
Part 1: Scripture and the Web of Meanings
- An Anthropological Analysis of Ezekiel 13:17–21 35
- Messiahs and Redeemer Figures in Postexilic Texts 57
- Early Divine Christology: Scripture, Narrativity and Confession in Luke-Acts 89
- Why is the New Testament Called “New Testament”? 119
- Disassembling Provenance: Origin Stories and Why They Matter for Scripture 149
-
Part 2: The Bible at Work: Historical Case Studies
- Power Dynamics in the Preached Word: A Fourth Century Case Study 165
- Augustine without a Theodicy of a Condemning God 195
- Philosophy in Aquinas’ Exegetical Work and Its Meta-Theological Implications 235
- Hamann between Luther and Hume 261
- Let Everything that Hath Breath Praise the Lord 283
- The Divine Forwards: Karl Barth’s Early Exegesis of the Pauline Epistles 305
- Karl Rahner’s Use of the Bible 327
-
Part 3: Informing Theological Discourse: Systematic Perspectives
- Canonical Theology, Social Location and the Search for Global Theological Method 345
- Quadriga without Platonism 375
- Reinventing the Quadriga 397
- The Theological Art of Scriptural Interpretation: Lessons from von Balthasar 415
- The Holy Scriptures as a Recognition- and Witnessing-Authority 433
- The Relationship of Scripture and Tradition in the Light of God’s Revelation 453
- Deriving Theology from Scripture 473
- List of Contributors 487
