German theologian and professor of New Testament at Marburg University (1921-51), one of the fathers of New Testament Form and Tradition-Criticism, most famous for his scepticism regarding the historical value of the gospels, coupled with his existentialist approach with his emphasis on the need for decision based on the kerygma that was to be recovered after the gospels have been 'demythologized' of the legends and inventions of the early church with which, he argued, they are encrusted. For Bultmann, the Christian faith consists in living an "authentic existence" by being "open to the future," encouraged by the stories and teachings of the Bible whether they actually happened or not.
Bultmann first came to fame when his form-critical study on the gospels, Die Geschichte der synoptischen Tradition was published in 1921, which was considerably augmented later by his commentary on the Gospel of John (1941)—in which he suggested that it was gnostic in origin—and, in the same year, his essay entitled "Neues Testament und Mythologie" (Kerygma and Myth). Though both works proved highly influential on NT studies for the next few decades, that influence had begin to wane by the late 1970s.
Further Readings & Resources:
Michael H. Burer, "A survey of Historical Jesus Studies: From Reimarus to Wright"
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