This title was first published in 2000. From the work of Hegel and Schelling to the dialectical theology of Barth, Bultmann and Gogarten, "Revelation" has developed a long, rich tradition of diverse thought, as well as many misunderstandings. Meaning, first and foremost, "God's encounter with those to whom God wishes to communicate God's own self", Revelation seeks to be recounted and communicated to others. As a theological expression, Revelation aims to direct our attention to the modes and areas in which we have a basis for expecting encounter with God - through stories, nature, the world as creation. From a rediscovered emphasis on "story", narrative theology has emerged - a concept the English-speaking world has welcomed for its neutrality between history and imaginative fiction and stress on narrative rather than doctrinal dimension of biblical text. This volume brings into relationship a concern with theology of revelation and an interest in the theology of story or narrative theology.

Revelation and Story explores the relationship between the theology of revelation and the theology of story or narrative theology. Mediating between German systematic theology's concern for revelation and current Anglo-Saxon interest in narrative theology and centrality of 'story', this book illuminates both traditions. Exploring 'revelation' and 'story' from both theological and philosophical perspectives, this book connects these concepts with questions of the authority of religious and literary texts, particularly the Bible. Believing that God's revelation precedes and forestalls all human perception of God, all speech about God, and every attempt to experience anything about God or know Him, leading scholars from both Anglo-Saxon and German traditions are brought together to present a diverse range of conceptions relating to how God's revelation occurs, resulting in a new theory of the relation of revelation and story which transcends the traditional cultural divide. Stanley Hauerwas contributes the Foreword. Revelation and Story offers a valuable new contribution to systematic theology, hermeneutics, and the study of the authority of Scripture, as well as presenting insights into important overlaps between British and German theology. This book will be of particular interest to scholars and students of philosophy and theology, and to students of literature and literary theory with an interest in hermeneutics.

Crucial tasks face protestant theology in its currently critical state. Challenged with growing skepticism and discouragement, what hope has theology for the future, and what sources might deliver this hope? Gerhard Sauter sets himself to help theology answer critical questions and accomplish essential tasks in order to move forward with hope.

"Protestant Theology at the Crossroads" examines contextual theology, in which particular cultural heritages, race and gender, and economic conditions and the structure of social life inform the teachings of the faith rather than vice versa. How, for example, do we approach the crisis in American self-understanding caused by terrorism? Do changes in European politics change our theological perceptions?

Drawing on the Warfield Lectures at Princeton in March 2000 -- at which many of these chapters were presented originally -- "Protestant Theology" does more than provide a much-needed overall explanation of the issues theology faces. It also contains basic information on the foundation of theology, hermeneutics, Christian ethics, many central doctrinal topics, and much more. This book is a vital text for those studying theology, involved in ministry, and training future church leaders.

Today the work of theology, or dogmatics, is widely thought to be of little practical importance for ordinary Christians. This challenging introduction to the tradition and practice of Christian dogmatics shows why reasoning theologically is still decisive for the life of the church.

Gerhard Sauter introduces readers to the various approaches to dogmatics and points out what is essential in a complete and meaningful Christian theology. He also argues convincingly that dogmatics is properly understood as a movement of rational thought and not simply as an old-fashioned presentation of Christian doctrine, thereby firmly establishing the necessity of dogmatics for communicating the essentials of the faith.

In this volume, Professor Sauter challenges the kind of eschatology he describes as a "theology of history," forcefully represented by Wolfhart Pannenberg and Jurgen Moltmann. He brings this "theology of history" into conversation with: (1) Albert Schweitzer's "Konsequente Eschatologie," that is, eschatology that can only be understood as expectation of imminent events, and (2) "radical eschatology," which deals with the foundation of Christian hope or with why we are allowed to hope in the first place. Drawing upon the reformers' (Luther/Calvin) understanding of the biblical term "promise," he defines the task of eschatology as establishing the relationship between justification and hope as well as the relationship between God's promise and our future. All Christians are called to "give an account of the hope which is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15). Is this "hope" simply within us or among us? To interpret thoroughly this sentence from all perspectives would be enough of an assignment for eschatology. To lead readers toward this task and to introduce them to eschatology's basic questions and related intellectual experiences of theology is the intention of this book. Contents 1.The Term "Eschatology" and Its Changing Nature 2.Jesus of Nazareth, "Bearer of Hope"? 3.The Activity of God in Humanity and Its History 4.The God of Hope The Power (Dynamics?) of the Future 5.One in Hope? Ecumenical Perspectives 6.Hope in the Life of the Churches 7.Basic Questions of Eschatology Gerhard Sauter if Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Ecumenical Institute at the University of Bonn. He has taught in the United States at Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary and is the author of The Question of Meaning: A Theological and Philosophical Orientation and Eschatological Rationality: Theological Issues in Focus.