Theology as hermeneutics : the world of Gerhard Ebeling

Abstract

Arthur Gibson maintains that Ebeling's views and handling of language in explaining his theology are "incurably incoherent from a logical point of view." Gibson bases his judgement on an analysis of four works by Ebeling, Theology and Proclamation, The Nature of Faith, The Word of God and Tradition, and, more importantly, Introduction to a Theological Theory of Language. I would like to argue that it is impossible to grasp Ebeling's theory of language and hermeneutics apart from his entire conception of theology. Before dismissing Ebeling's hermeneutics we must consider its theological coherence. This I will do in Part I of this article. Part II of this article analyzes Ebeling's theory of understanding as contained in his Introduction to a Theological Theory of Language. I will situate this work within the context of Ebeling's earlier theological programme. In so doing I shall show the evolution and development in Ebeling's theology. The final section of this article contains a critique of Ebeling's hermeneutical theology.