PANNENBERG, Wolfhart (1928-):
German LUTHERAN theologian and student of Karl BARTH and
Karl JASPERS who was greatly influenced by Gunther Bornkamm. His Basic Questions in
Theology (1970-1973) and Theology and the Philosophy of Science (1976),
locate theology academic study as "the SCIENCE of GOD" offering knowledge about
"the one who determines the whole of reality." Following HEGEL, he argues that
REALITY is essentially historical and that God can be fully known only at the end of
HISTORY. Therefore he takes the theologically conservative position that the historicity
of Jesus' resurrection is crucial for CHRISTIANITY.