THEOLOGY THROUGH HISTORY: THE PROBLEM OF THE NATURE OF HISTORICAL THEOLOGY IN THE 19th CENTURY

Abstract

This paper focuses on the place of 'historical theology' that emerged as a result of modern biblical researches in nineteenth-century historicism. The paper considers the impact of the relationship problem between history and theology on the emergence of historical theology in modern Christian theology. In the Christian world, such problems were mostly discussed in the context of discussions of "historicism" in the nineteenth century when historical-critical studies were on the rise. Therefore, the article aims to shed light on the discussions of the nature of historical theology in the nineteenth century. However, we will not participate in the philosophical background of the debates of historicism. Rather, we will treat the discussions that arise in the context of biblical researches. We will limit the issue to the formation of historical theology. In this context, we will argue that the relationship between the process of historicalization and the development of theology as a science in the nineteenth century is the main ground that contributes to the development and rise of modern historical theology. We will try to show this through some important theologians/historians (F. C. Baur and A. Harnack) in the nineteenth century. Because the works of Baur and Harnack are important for showing the place where historical theology came at the end of the nineteenth century.