Rudolf Bultmann

Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976) was a German Lutheran theologian and New Testament scholar who profoundly influenced twentieth-century biblical interpretation and theological method. Professor at Marburg University from 1921 to 1951, Bultmann pioneered the application of form criticism to the Gospels and developed an existentialist approach to Christian faith. His program of demythologization sought to reinterpret the mythological worldview of the New Testament in existentialist terms accessible to modern believers. Drawing on Martin Heidegger's philosophy, Bultmann argued that authentic faith required encountering the kerygma (proclamation) of Christ's death and resurrection as an existential challenge rather than accepting supernatural narratives literally. His major works include "The History of the Synoptic Tradition" (1921) and "New Testament and Mythology" (1941). While controversial, his emphasis on faith as personal decision and his attempt to reconcile critical biblical scholarship with Christian belief shaped subsequent debates about religious language, hermeneutics, and the relationship between history and faith.