The Life of Our Lord in Contemporary Interpretation

Abstract

Frederic E. Blume critiques modern approaches to Gospel interpretation, particularly those shaped by Formgeschichte and The New Hermeneutic. He contrasts these with Martin Luther’s view of Scripture as the inspired, historical Word of God. Blume argues that contemporary scholars often reject the historical reliability of the Gospels, viewing them instead as community-generated theological reflections. He outlines how critics attribute sayings and events to later church interests, denying their origin in Jesus’ actual ministry. Blume exposes the presuppositions behind these methods—especially those of Bultmann, Käsemann, and Fuchs—and warns against their erosion of biblical authority. He defends traditional hermeneutics, which seek the original meaning intended by inspired authors, and calls for renewed devotion to Scripture as divine revelation. The essay is both a theological rebuttal and a call to uphold confessional integrity in biblical interpretation. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)