Contents

Editor’s Preface -- pg. 5

Preface -- pg. 11

Abbreviations -- pg. 18

PART ONE THE STATE OF THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION

Orientation of Our Theological Thinking -- pg. 21

A. The Two Basic Types of Contemporary Theology (Modern and Conservative) -- pg. 23

I. Address to the Contemporary World -- pg. 23

II. Terminological Inadequacy of the Terms Modern and Con- scrvative and Their Replacement with Cartesian and Non-
Cartesian -- pg. 30

B. Confrontation of the Basic Types under the Terms Cartesian
(Theology A) and Non-Cartesian (Theology B) -- pg. 38

III. Sketch of Cartesian Theology (Theology A) and Its Essential
Problems -- pg. 38

V. Key Hermeneutical Question in Theology A. Problem of the
Form and Content of Mythical Statements in Theology -- pg. 66

V. The Crux: Kerygmatic and Disarmed Myth -- pg. 84

VI. Theology B: Counter-question and Question -- pg. 115

VII. Theological Starting-Point in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit -- pg. 129

VIII. The Holy Spirit as He Who Creates Anew and Yet Also Links
to the Old. The New Place of Self-Understanding -- pg. 138

IX. Death of the Old Cartesian Self -- pg. 152

X. New Creation by the Spirit: Anthropological Aspect.
The Old and the New Self -- pg. 174

XI. New Creation by the Spirit: Hermeneutical Aspect.
A Theological Epistemology -- pg. 193

XII. Summary of the Relation between Cartesian Theology (A) and Non-Cartesian Theology (B) -- pg. 212

PART TWO: THEOLOGY IN SELF-GROUNDED SECULARITY

Situation and Task of Theology in the Generation of the Supposed Death of God

XIII. Theme and Questionability of the Slogan Death of God -- pg. 221

XIV. History of the Idea of the Death of God -- pg. 232

XV. Theological Evaluation of the Idea of the Death of God.
Basis of a Secular and Scientific Knowledge of the World (Science) and Mastery over It (Technology) -- pg. 265

XVI. Godless World and Worldless God. The Theological Problem of Secularization -- pg. 312

XVII. Consequences for a Christian Secularism -- pg. 337

XVIII. Tasks of Christian Secularity. Outlines of the Themes of Proclamation -- pg. 378

Appendix: Further Discussion of the Concept of Secularity and the Penultimate Illustrated by the Question Whether the Ideal and Utopian Is Possible -- pg. 386

Indexes

1. Names -- pg. 405

2. Subjects -- pg. 408

3. Scripture References -- pg. 417

This is a particular pleasure to introduce this first volume of Helmut Thielicke's Evangelical Faith to the English-speaking world. Until the publication of an abridgement of his Theological Ethics Thielicke was mainly known in English for his powerful sermons. His real vocation, however, has been that of a theologian, and it is no secret that he has been disconcerted rather than flattered that his incidental activity should have become the basis of his reputation. The present work should help to correct the situation.
In contrast to the Theological Ethics, the Evangelical Faith is presented with a minimum of compression and no arbitrary rearrangements. If some of the material is less relevant to the non-European scene this does not reduce its value. It is indeed a salutary corrective to parochialism and enhances the significance of the book in terms of expansion of knowledge and insights. The few abridgements in the text and footnotes and in the concluding excursus involve no material excisions.
Written at the height of demythologization and death of God debates, the book might seem in a sense to be outmoded. But this is a superficial impression. These dated issues serve only as illustrations of the fundamental and very pertinent analysis that is Thielicke’s main theme, and if anything they are enabled to function the more successfully as such by the new element of historical detachment. To make the transition to more recent forms of Thielicke's two types of theology is a simple and illuminating exercise.
The book is, of course, distinctively Lutheran in orientation. Nevertheless,it is not a Lutheran dogmatics in the narrower sense. The background and approach are more broadly ecumenical and a wider audience is in view. What is attempted is not the promotion of a sectional position. It is the helping of the whole church as it tries to find its way theologically in a new and perplexing age.