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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 68
Page 6
... kind of " realism , " independent of its reference or lack thereof , to any reality beyond itself : The oft - repeated reproach that Homer is a liar takes nothing from his effectiveness , he does not need to base his story on historical ...
... kind of " realism , " independent of its reference or lack thereof , to any reality beyond itself : The oft - repeated reproach that Homer is a liar takes nothing from his effectiveness , he does not need to base his story on historical ...
Page 7
... kind of unity , and then seeing other biblical material as introduction or commentary on those narratives seemed to Frei " at least a good hypothesis , " a " better . . . organizing principle " with " a wider range of applicability ...
... kind of unity , and then seeing other biblical material as introduction or commentary on those narratives seemed to Frei " at least a good hypothesis , " a " better . . . organizing principle " with " a wider range of applicability ...
Page 11
... kind of certainty . " 26 For Fuchs , " the central theme of the sayings of Jesus is the decision which they demand . But this demand is simply the echo of Jesus ' own decision . We have to understand his conduct as likewise determined ...
... kind of certainty . " 26 For Fuchs , " the central theme of the sayings of Jesus is the decision which they demand . But this demand is simply the echo of Jesus ' own decision . We have to understand his conduct as likewise determined ...
Page 14
... kind of persuasive power — Barth used to say that a good dogmatics was the best apologetics — but does not in any usual sense constitute an argument to persuade the unbeliever , and Frei thought it best not to speculate too much on the ...
... kind of persuasive power — Barth used to say that a good dogmatics was the best apologetics — but does not in any usual sense constitute an argument to persuade the unbeliever , and Frei thought it best not to speculate too much on the ...
Page 17
... kind of informal priority . If we try to define it in terms of some particular literary theory , the literal reading may " break " in the face of changes in literary fashion or discrepancy between prac- tice and theory ; as the modest ...
... kind of informal priority . If we try to define it in terms of some particular literary theory , the literal reading may " break " in the face of changes in literary fashion or discrepancy between prac- tice and theory ; as the modest ...
Contents
3 | |
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 |
Divergence and Convergence | 177 |
8 Of the Resurrection of Christ | 200 |
An Evangelical Appraisal | 207 |
10 H Richard Niebuhr on History Church and Nation | 213 |
Hans Frei as Theologian | 235 |
Index | 271 |
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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 208 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father.
Page 85 - Why seek ye the living among the dead ? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
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 160 - And he said to them, -"To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; 12. so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.
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 165 - The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
Page 81 - O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Behoved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
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.