Historical theology as the crossroads of faith and reason

Abstract

F.C. Baur was a professor of theology at the University of Tübingen in the nineteenth century. He has been identified by some as the father of modern Pauline studies, and by others as an arch-heretic and an atheist. Most agree that he was a scholar of great importance for the fields of theology and biblical studies, but there has been much disagreement as to what his significance is. A well-represented tradition says his value lies only in what his own mistakes can teach scholars today what not to do. It is my intention to provide a counter-argument to this tradition, and to elucidate what was the positive value of Baur’s pioneering work in historical theology, as well as the uniqueness of his own contribution to the storied conflict of faith and reason following the Enlightenment.