Ernst Fuchs (11 January 1903 – 15 January 1983) was a German

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

theologian and a student of

Rudolf Bultmann Rudolf Karl Bultmann (; 20 August 1884 – 30 July 1976) was a German Lutheran theologian and professor of the New Testament at the University of Marburg. He was one of the major figures of early-20th-century biblical studies. A prominent critic ...

. With

Gerhard Ebeling Gerhard Ebeling (1912–2001) was a German Lutheran theologian and with Ernst Fuchs a leading proponent of new hermeneutic theology in the 20th century. Life Ebeling was born on 6 July 1912 in Steglitz, Berlin, where he attended the gymnasium ...

he was a leading proponent of a New Hermeneutic theology in the 20th century.

Life

Fuchs was born in

Heilbronn Heilbronn () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, surrounded by Heilbronn (district), Heilbronn District. With over 126,000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state. From the late Mid ...

on 11 June 1903 He was nurtured in the Swabian culture of Esslingen and Cannstatt and attended minor seminaries in Schoental and Urach (1918–22). His student years at

Tübingen Tübingen (, , Swabian: ''Dibenga'') is a traditional university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer rivers. about one in thr ...

(1922–24, 1925–27) and

Marburg Marburg ( or ) is a university town in the German federal state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (''Landkreis''). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approximate ...

(1924–25, 1927–29) during the heyday of

dialectical theology In Christianity, Neo-orthodoxy or Neoorthodoxy, also known as theology of crisis and dialectical theology, was a theological movement developed in the aftermath of the First World War. The movement was largely a reaction against doctrines of ...

were indelibly stamped by the theology of

Karl Barth Karl Barth (; ; – ) was a Swiss Calvinist theologian. Barth is best known for his commentary '' The Epistle to the Romans'', his involvement in the Confessing Church, including his authorship (except for a single phrase) of the Barmen Declara ...

, the philosophy of M. Heidegger, and the NT studies of R. Bultmann, under whom he received his doctorate at Marburg in 1929.(1999) Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation, R.N. Soulen, "Ernst Fuchs", by John Hayes, 422-423

New hermeneutic

Fuchs' concern is not to ask for the meaning of the text, but to learn how to listen to unobtrusive language about human beings' existence according to the hermeneutical help given with the texts itself. This is the New Hermeneutic. Fuchs' achievement lay in bringing the insights of

, and

Martin Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; ; 26 September 188926 May 1976) was a German philosopher who is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. He is among the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th centur ...

into fruitful conjunction. He sought to bridge Barth's

Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

emphasis on the revealed Word of God with

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

emphasis on the nature of human existence before God by employing a

phenomenology Phenomenology may refer to: Art * Phenomenology (architecture), based on the experience of building materials and their sensory properties Philosophy * Phenomenology (philosophy), a branch of philosophy which studies subjective experiences and a ...

of language derived in part from

Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; ; 26 September 188926 May 1976) was a German philosopher who is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. He is among the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th centur ...

's later position, arguing that both human existence and the bring of God are ultimately linguistic-made available in language – and that theology is thus properly "faith's doctrine of language" (Sprachlehre des Glaubens). Theology's task is essentially

hermeneutical Hermeneutics () is the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts. Hermeneutics is more than interpretative principles or methods used when immediate c ...

. Theology translates

Scripture Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual prac ...

into contemporary terms and contemporary existence into scriptural terms. Fuchs' interests is language event with

existential philosophy Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on human thinking, feeling, and acting. Existentialist thinkers frequently explore issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value ...

. Conversely, the reality of God's love is verbalized in Jesus' word and deeds recorded in the Gospels and is thus preserved as language gain (Sprachgewinn). In the freedom of proclamation God's presence in the gospel and the "Yes of love: happens again – that is, comes to be as language, opening up the future to authentic existence (faith, hope, and love).

Language event

Language event (''Sprachereignis'') is an act or instance of written or spoken communication. In 1920s earliest use was found in Journal of Philosophy.English Oxford Living Dictionaries
/ref> In theology this word was used by Ernest Fuchs. Ernest Fuchs' doctrine of language helped to inspire a "new quest" of the historical

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

because it could now be said that Jesus' words and deeds constituted that "language event" (''Sprachereignisse'') in which faith first entered into language, thereby becoming available as an existential possibility within language, the "house of being" (

References

Sources

* P. J. Achemeier, ''Introduction to the New Hermeneutic'' (1969) * J. Fangmeier, Ernst Fuchs: ''Versuch einer Orientierung'' (ThStud 80, 1964) * J. M. Robinson and J.B.Cob (eds.), ''The New Hermeneutic'' (New Frontiers in Theology 2. 1964) * R. N. Soulen, ''Ernst Fuchs: NT Theologian'', JAAR 39 (1971): 467-87 * Ky-Chun Sobr>''Hooks & Ebeling: History of Hermeneutics and New Hermeneutics'' (Salim: 2006)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuchs, Ernst 1903 births 1983 deaths German Lutheran theologians German Lutherans Hermeneutists Heidegger scholars