Bultmann's pioneering study of the New Testament initiated a new era in biblical studies in the 20th century. Together with Karl Barth, Bultmann broke with liberal theology, but his often misunderstood programme of demythologization took him in a radically different direction from Barth. In many respects Bultmann set the agenda for biblical theology in the decades following World War II.

This volume concentrates on the key texts and ideas in Bult- mann's thought. It presents the essential Bultmann for students and the general reader.

Roger Johnson's introductory essay and notes on the selected texts set Bultmann in his historical context, chart the devel- opment of his thought and indicate the significance of his theology in the development of Christian theology as a whole. Substantial selections from Bultmann's work illustrate key

themes:

God as "Wholly Other

Jesus and the Eschatological Kingdom

Existentialist interpretation

• Kerygma

Faith and Modernity in conflict • Demythologizing: controversial slogan and theological

focus

Roger A. Johnson is Elisabeth Luce Moore Professor of Chris- tian Studies at Wellesley College. He is the author of a book on Rudolf Bultmann, The Origins of Demythologizing (Brill, 1974) as well as a chapter on Bultmann in the textbook Critical Issues in Modern Religion 2nd ed., (Prentice- 1990). He is also the editor of two earlier Fortress F publications: Psychohistory and Religion: The Case of Y Man Luther and Views from the Pews: Christian Beliefs Social Attitudes.