Monday, February 3, 2014

Prof. George Ladd's "Theology of New Testament:" (1) Orientation & Bibliography


Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament.  Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974.


Contents

Abbreviations

PART 1: THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS

  1. Introduction
  2. John the Baptist
  3. The Need of the Kingdom
  4. The Kingdom of God
  5. The New Age of Salvation
  6. The God of the Kingdom
  7. The Mystery of the Kingdom
  8. The Kingdom and the Church
  9. The Ethics of the Kingdom
  10.  The Messiah
  11.  The Son of Man
  12.  The Son of God
  13.  The Messianic Problem
  14.  The Messianic Mission
  15.  Eschatology

PART II: THE FOURTH GOSPEL

  1.  The Critical Problem
  2.  The Johannine Dualism
  3.  Christology
  4.  Eternal Life
  5.  The Christian Life
  6.  The Holy Spirit
  7.  Eschatology

PART III: THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH

  1.  The Critical Problem
  2.  The Resurrection
  3.  The Eschatological Kerygma
  4.  The Church

PART IV: PAUL

  1.  Introduction
  2.  Sources of Paul’s Thought
  3.  Man Outside of Christ
  4.  The Person of Christ
  5.  The Work of Christ: Atonement
  6.  The Work of Christ: Justification
  7.  The Pauline Psychology
  8.  The New Life in Christ
  9.  The Law
  10.  The Christian Life
  11.  The Church
  12.  Eschatology

PART V: THE GENERAL EPISTLES

  1.  Hebrews
  2.  James
  3.  1 Peter
  4.  2 Peter and Jude
  5.  Johannine Epistles

PART VI: THE APOCALYPSE

  1. The Apocalypse

Indexes

The first chapter entails the collection of numerous volumes for review and the construction of a solid-annotated NT bibliography.  We have many here already, but others will need to be purchased for review.

Middle Ages:  Prof. Ladd summarily dismisses the entire period wherein “biblical study was completely dominated by ecclesiastical dogma” (13).  That was quick. 

Reformation Period:  Prof. Ladd tells us that the Reformers insisted on the literal over the allegorical method.  To their credit, they attempted to establish theology based on the Bible. He then proceeds to criticize Calvin as handling the OT as if the Jews understood the NT doctrine of Christ.  That was quick too!

Orthodox Scholastic Reaction:  Prof. Ladd tells us that the Reformation gains were lost and history become mired—again—in dogma.  That was quick too!

Rationalist Reaction: Prof. Ladd informs one that efforts were undertaken to get the Bible “free from ecclesiastical and theological control” (15). We’ll begin building the bibliography here and throughout. J.P Gabler’s name frequently arises, but we cannot find anything in print.  He was widely considered to be the father of modern liberal theology.  His 1787 inaugural address at the University of Altdorf argued: “On the Correct Distinction Between Dogmatic and Biblical Theology and the Right Definition of Their Goals.”  Gabler sharply distinguished between biblical and dogmatic theology. His views held for about 50 years with these followers: Kaiser (1813), De Wette (1813) and Baumgarten-Crusius (1828). 


Rise of the Philosophy of Religion School:  Hegel was the father and F.C. Baur the mother of this idealistic school infamous for the assertion of thesis-antithesis-resolution triad.  Paul favored freedom from the law (thesis) while Peter advocated for the abiding validity of the law (antithesis) resulting in a new sythesis—the early 2nd century church. This was called the “Tubingen School.”

Two works, one primary and the other secondary: 

 

Baur, Ferdinand Christian. Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ: His Life and Works, His Epistles and Teachings. Peabody, MA:  Hendrickson Publishers, 2003. http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Apostle-Jesus-Christ-Teachings/dp/1565638999/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391385989&sr=8-2&keywords=f.c.+baur    

 

Two reviews of this primary work are:

 

"One hundred and sixty years ago F. C. Baur posed, in inescapably sharp form, a question which has haunted Christianity throughout its history: is Christianity simply a form of Judaism, a development from Judaism, or was it, as Baur argued, from the beginning something quite distinct, a religious spirit or consciousness which could not be or become itself until it broke through the limits and restrictions of its historical origins? Baur’s radical answer set the agenda for the rest of the nineteenth century, and though neglected for most of the twentieth century, the question has reemerged with renewed force in a post-Holocaust world. Baur’s continues to be an important voice in the resulting debate." —James D. G. Dunn, Lightfoot Professor of Divinity, University of Durham

 

"It will be extremely helpful to New Testament critics to have F. C. Baur’s influential work on Paul—long out of print and often no longer even available on most theological library shelves—conveniently at hand. Baur’s application of Hegel’s dialectical theories to the writings of Paul profoundly shaped the discourse of his mid-nineteenth century German contemporaries, including that of those who sought to challenge certain aspects of his interpretation. They did not escape the powerful force of his conceptualization of the world, including a deeply negative evaluation of the Oriental spirit (i.e., Judaism and Jewishness), which was central to his project. The legacy of these developments—the so-called Tübingen school—has deeply influenced NT studies (and arguably world history) ever since, and continues to assert its influence on the interpretation of Paul’s voice to this day, although often now in unrecognized ways. With the availability of this edition, that is about to change. Thank you, Hendrickson Publishers!" —Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D., The Galatians Debate, The Irony of Galatians, The Mystery of Romans

Harris, Horton. The Tubingen School: A Historical and Theological Investigation of the School of F.C. Baur. Grand Rapids, Baker, 1990.   http://www.amazon.com/The-Tubingen-School-Theological-Investigation/dp/0801043441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391385989&sr=8-1&keywords=f.c.+baur

Conservative Reaction:  several names are offered by the Professor.  E.W Hengstenberg,  J.C.K Hoffman,  J.A. Bengel,  J.T. Beck and the wider “Erlangen School,” Tholuck, our ever-revered Theodor Zahn (influential with old Reformed Episcopalians) and P. Feine.

Hengstenberg, Ernst W. Christology of the Old Testament and a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions.  Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1976. Available here: http://www.amazon.com/Christology-Testament-Commentary-Messianic-Predictions/dp/0825428122/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380319909&sr=8-3&keywords=ernst+hengstenberg+christology

Hengstenberg was one of the "heavy hitters" in 19th century Old Testament scholarship. Although Mr. (Dr. Prof.) Hengstenberg read and understood Mr. Schleiermacher’s Glaubenslehre, Mr. Hengstengberg said, "I shall never betake myself to him."  This rebuff of Mr. Schleiermacher by Mr. Hengstenberg, reminds me of Mr. Karl Barth’s rebuff as well. Mr. Barth purchased each semester a bust of Mr. Schleiermacher. At the end of the semester full of attacks on Mr. Schleiermacher by Mr. Barth, he would wave his hand, hit the bust, and dash the bust into small pieces on the floor.  Hengstenberg’s OT volume is under current review.  Solid.

Also, Hengstenberg, Ernest Wilhelm. History of the Kingdom of God Under the Old Testament, Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1871. Volume 1 is 469 pages. http://www.amazon.com/History-Kingdom-Under-Testament-Transl/dp/B009MXNY8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381869400&sr=8-2&keywords=hengstenberg+history+of+the+kingdom+of+god

But Prof. Ladd, being the rather-dispensational chap that he is, CLAIMS that Hengstenberg “saw little progress in revelation” and “little distinction between the two Testaments” (15).  We would remind Prof. Ladd of Prof. Hengstenberg’s citation: before doing NT work, one must be an OT scholar first. A view more volumes.



Zahn, Theodor.  Introduction to the New Testament, Vol II  (3rd ed.).  Minneapolis, MN: Klock and Klock, 1977.   There are three volumes.  These currently are under review. This may be one of the finest New Testament Introductions.  It is a must-read.  Volume 2 is available at:  http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-New-Testament-Volume-2/dp/1313662909/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376878710&sr=8-2&keywords=theodor+zahn

Liberal Historicism in New Testament Theology:  several names emerge.  One can hardly bring oneself to say or read—again—Rudolph Bultmann.  I don’t think that possible again.  Yes, have read everything he wrote multiple times.

Bultmann, Rudoph.  Theology of the New Testament.  Baylor, TX:  Baylor University Press, 2007. http://www.amazon.com/Theology-New-Testament-Rudolf-Bultmann/dp/1932792937/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391388651&sr=8-1&keywords=bultmann+theology+of+the+new+testament .  There are others, but we’ll forego those.

Ritschl, Albrecht.  The Christian Doctrine of Justification and Reconciliation. No location: Kessinger, 2006. http://www.amazon.com/The-Christian-Doctrine-Justification-Reconciliation/dp/1428628193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391388866&sr=8-1&keywords=ritschl


Weiss, Bernard.  Biblical Theology of the New Testament, Vol. 1. No location: Ulan Press, 2012. There are two volumes here. Weiss recognized revelation and canonical authority, but his Jesus resembled Von Harnack’s theology. http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Theology-New-Testament-Volume/dp/B00A6MDBFS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1391389519&sr=8-7&keywords=Weiss+theology+of+the+new+testament  

Gould, Ezra Palmer. The Biblical Theology of the New Testament.  No location: Amazon Digital, n.d. http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-theology-New-Testament-ebook/dp/B00HFF32VW/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391390228&sr=1-2

Victory of “Religion over Theology:”  this brings us to the religiongeschicte Schule, or the “History of Religions School.”  His Nature of New Testament Theology attacked “doctrinal systems” in favor of “living experiences.”  Sound familiar?  S.J. Case, H. Wienel, and E. W. Parsons are within this ambit.

Contemporary Return to Biblical Theology:  Prof. Ladd attributes this to (1) a loss of faith in evolutionary naturalism, (2) a reaction against purely historicist studies, and (3) a recovery of the idea of revelation—we interpret Ladd’s use of the term “revelation” in the Barthian sense of “witnesses” to the truth.

A few names here:


Dodd, C.H. Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments: Three Lectures With an Appendix on Eschatology and History. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1982. http://www.amazon.com/Apostolic-Preaching-Its-Developments-Eschatology/dp/0801029090/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391463732&sr=8-1&keywords=C.H.+Dodd+Apostolic+Preaching


--------Parables of the Kingdom. New York: Charles Scribner’s Son, 1962. http://www.amazon.com/Parables-Kingdom-C-H-Dodd/dp/002330460X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391463827&sr=8-2&keywords=C.H.+Dodd      

Filson, Floyd Vivian.  One Lord, One Faith. Westminster Press, 1943. Louisville, KY: Westminster Press, 1943.    http://www.amazon.com/Lord-faith-Floyd-Vivian-Filson/dp/B0007EJ0F0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391464308&sr=8-2&keywords=Filson+One+Lord+one+faith

Hunter, Archibald M.  Introducing the New Testament (3rd. Ed.).  Louisville, KY: Wesminster Press, 1996. Archibald M. Hunter is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He was previously Yates Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Mansfield College, Oxford. http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Testament-Third-Revised-Edition/dp/0664249655/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1391464563&sr=8-11&keywords=A.M.+Hunter+new+testament


Kummel, Werner Georg.  The Theology of the New Testament.  Nasheville, TN: Abington, 1978.  This 350-page volume and 1996-enlarged edition is available at:  http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Testament-Werner-Georg-Kummel/dp/0687055768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377027178&sr=8-1&keywords=werner+georg+Kummel

Bultmannian School: having rather specialized in this old chap years back, I shall not list one thing he’s written.  Save your money (unless a NT investigator and scholar). Jesus was not the Son of Man and Messiah; that picture, on Buck’s view, was the creation of the 2nd century church. The incarnation, virgin birth, miracles and resurrection were all myths needing debunking and awaiting the modern recreation by scholarly inventiveness that he called the “kerygma.”

John A.T. Robertson might be placed in the post-Buch period with his New Quest for the Historical Jesus.  

Conzelmann, Hans. An Outline of the Theology of the New Testament. New York: Harper and Collins, 1969.  http://www.amazon.com/Outline-Theology-New-Testament/dp/0060615710/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391465591&sr=1-6&keywords=Conzelmann

The American Scene:  Prof. Ladd informs us, somewhat unsurprisingly if perhaps presumptuously also, that American scholarship has not been noted for its creative contribution to New Testament theology (28).  He offers us George Stevens, W.D. Davis (isn’t he British? Oh, that’s W.D. Davies), Brevard Childs, Gerhard Hasel, and Geerhardus Vos.





Hasel, Gerhard.  New Testament Theology: Issues in the Current Debate. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1978.  http://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Theology-Issues-Current/dp/0802817335/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391466859&sr=1-2&keywords=gerhard+hasel

--------Old Testament: Issues in the Current Debate. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991. http://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Theology-Issues-Current/dp/080280537X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

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