It’s The Anniversary of Rudolf Bultmann’s Birth

Rudolf Karl Bultmann was born on 20 August, 1884 and – if biblical scholars might be compared to meteor’s – he left a crater on impact the size Meteor Crater in Arizona.  By contrast, Burton Mack’s impact was the size of a VW Beetle and NT Wright’s the size of a Ford F-150.

Bultmann’s expertise extended from the Gospels through Paul (and quite frankly he wasn’t very interested in much else).  It is in fact regrettable that he didn’t show concern for the Catholic Epistles for he would have made a mighty contribution there.

Bultmann is despised by Fundamentalists but only because they don’t read Bultmann, they only read ABOUT Bultmann- in books by other Fundamentalists.  Persons who make the effort to read Bultmann’s sermons and lectures, not to mention his academically oriented works, can only admire him for his piety and his Christian commitment.

All the best people are born in August.  And Bultmann is one of many examples which prove that dictum true.

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Enjoy Bultmann Day.