Wolfhart Pannenberg: History as the validation of faith in the historical Jesus

Abstract

One of the most significant developments in the Quest for the Historical Jesus is the continuing challenge posed by Lessing's ditch between faith and history or Bultmann's impasse on fact and significance. This timeless problem emerged over and over in the history of the church as it sought to respond to new challenges arising from every new age.

Wolfhart Pannenberg is one of the modern Protestant theologians who attempts to bridge this gulf and break this deadlock. He seeks a converging point between christology and modern thought. He also pursues to mend the split between faith and history, thus making his christology eclipsed by rationalism. This governs Pannenberg’s christological approach in <em>Jesus, God and Man</em> which ignited extensive theological interests and criticisms after its publication.

In dealing with the intricacy of Pannenberg's christological method, this chapter will survey Pannenberg's concept of history in relation to the factuality of confessions and plausibility of formulations of faith in the historical Jesus. Pannenberg's method is one which defines the historical basis of christological formulations in a language relevant and responsive to contemporary historical questions. This chapter will also explore the viability of his method. Lastly it will assess the logic of Pannenberg's apologetic approach of situating his christology in dialogue with contemporary intellectuals.