新約神学と教義学 : H. SchlierとA. Schlatterの場合(V)

1. I have surveyed in the preceding paper how Schlier discusses dynamically the close relationship between the Theology of the New Testament and Dogmatics in his thesis "Biblische und dogmatische Theologie". I questioned if his understanding of the Biblical Theology was not too dogmatic. To verify this point I will use another of his thesis "Uber Sinn und Aufgabe einer Theologie des Neuen Testaments". 2. According to Schlier the Theology of the New Testament is both the Theology of the New Testament and also the Theology of the New Testament. In the former sense it demands diversity and in the latter it demands unity. The purpose of the Theology of the New Testament is to draw out its hidden unity and to make that unity clear, he says. This is an important suggestion. The Theology of the New Testament should not become merely a Science of the New Testament. 3. Though Schlier does not lose the historical-critical standpoint, he never fails to take into account unity, when he refers to diversity. He starts with an analysis of particularity of the individual document and traces its passage to unity step by step. He finallypoints out the limits of the historical-critical method. 4. Schlier says that the Theology of the New Testament needs a theological method from beginning to end. I agree with him so far as he accepts the historical-critical method as the first step of research into Biblical Theology and also accepts the limits of this method. I disagree with him, however, when he takes the Theology of the New Testament too dogmatically. He often seems to mix up Biblical Theology and Dogmatics. The Theology of the New Testament is an independent discipline and should be considered as a subject independent of Dogmatics