Theology and Narrative: Selected EssaysHans W. Frei (1922-1988) was one of the most influential American theologians of his generation. Early in his career he drew attention to the importance of biblical narratives; he helped make Karl Barth once again a creative voice in contemporary theology; and he served as a model of what his colleague, George Lindbeck, has called "postliberal theology." This volume collects ten of Frei's lectures and essays, many of them never before published. Addressing audiences of theologians, biblical scholars, and literary critics, Frei explores the implications of his work for hermeneutics and Christology, and discusses Barth, Schleiermacher, and his own teacher, H. Richard Niebuhr. William Placher has provided an introduction to Frei's life and work, and the volume ends with an essay by George Hunsinger on Frei's significance for theology today. This collection provides an unrivaled introduction to Frei's work. |
Contents
3 | |
1 Remarks in Connection with a Theological Proposal | 26 |
2 Theological Reflections on the Accounts of Jesus Death and Resurrection | 45 |
Some Hermeneutical Considerations | 94 |
Does It Stretch or Will It Break? | 117 |
Resolution Armistice or Coexistence? | 153 |
Theologian | 167 |
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Common terms and phrases
action actually affirmation apologetics argument ascriptive subject Auerbach basic believe Bible Biblical Narrative character Christian theology Christology church claim concept context contrast cultural David Tracy depicted divine doctrine dogmatic enacted Erich Auerbach essay event fact faith formal Frei Frei's Friedrich Schleiermacher Gilbert Ryle Gnostic gospel narratives gospel story historical human Ibid identity of Jesus intention intention-action interpretation Jesus Christ Jesus of Nazareth Karl Barth Kermode kind language least liberal linguistic literal reading literal sense literary logically manifestation matter meaning meaningfulness metaphor modern mysterious myth narrated narrative theology parables particular Paul Ricoeur person philosophical possibility present question realistic narrative reality reference Reinhold Niebuhr relation religion religious resurrection revelation Richard Niebuhr Ricoeur savior scheme Schleiermacher Schleiermacher's Scripture seems self-description sensus literalis simply soteriology specific structure synoptic Gospels Testament textual theologians things tion tive tradition transcendent truth understanding unity universal unsubstitutable words
Popular passages
Page 6 - The oft-repeated reproach that Homer is a liar takes nothing from his effectiveness, he does not need to base his story on historical reality, his reality is powerful enough in itself; it ensnares us, • weaving its web around us, and that suffices him. And this "real...
Page 6 - The Bible's claim to truth is not only far more urgent than Homer's, it is tyrannical — it excludes all other claims. The world of the Scripture stories is not satisfied with claiming to be a historically true reality — it insists that it is the only real world, is destined for autocracy.
Page 10 - But mental happenings occur in insulated fields, known as 'minds', and there is, apart maybe from telepathy, no direct causal connection between what happens in one mind and what happens in another. Only through the medium of the public physical world can the mind of one person make a difference to the mind of another. The mind is its own place and in his inner life each of us lives the life of a ghostly Robinson Crusoe.