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date: 18 January 2021

Abstract and Keywords

This chapter analyses Soren Kierkegaard's thought about the history of theology, discussing different notions of historical theology and evaluating how they apply to the way Kierkegaard engaged with history of theology. It explains the two key elements of the Kierkegaardian historical theology: tracking the process of decline from the Christianity of the New Testament to the enfeebled caricature that passed for Christianity in contemporary Denmark; and recovering the voices of the true Christians of the past who genuinely followed Christ in suffering and martyrdom.

Keywords: Soren Kierkegaard, history of theology, historical theology, Christianity, New Testament, Denmark, true Christians, Christ, suffering

David R. Law

David R. Law is Professor of Christian Thought and Philosophical Theology at the University of Manchester. Among his publications are two books on Kierkegaard, namely Kierkegaard as Negative Theologian (Oxford University Press, 1993) and Kierkegaard's Kenotic Christology (Oxford University Press, 2013). He has also published articles on Kierkegaard in the International Kierkegaard Commentary and in Kierkegaard Research: Sources, Reception and Resources.

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