Page 123 - History of Christianity - Student Textbook

A prolific writer, he edited The Apostolic Faith (1889-1929) and authored Kol Kare Bomidbar: A Voice Crying in
the Wilderness (1902) and the Everlasting Gospel (c. 1919). (http://www.bu.edu/missiology/missionary-
biography/n-o-p-q/parham-charles-fox-1873-1929/)

Albert Schweitzer 1875-1965

Albert Schweitzer was French a theologian, organist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher,
and physician. He is famous for his humanitarian medical work in Gibbon, Africa. His
writing in the “Quest for the Historical Jesus” called into question the Gospel accounts
concerning the facts about Jesus’s life. He challenged many of the Gospel writer’s views.
He promoted the idea that all of Jesus’s future predictions, as understood by his
audience, would be fulfilled in their lifetime. He challenged the eschatological views of
his day.

Rudolph Bultmann, 1884-1976 ––

Rudolf Bultmann (1884–1976) was one of the most influential scholars and theologians of the
20th century. He was the son of a Lutheran pastor, and he became professor of New Testament at
the University of Marburg (Germany). Bultmann is best known for the concept of
“demythologizing” the New Testament.

Bultmann taught that the New Testament was a product of the 1st century worldview, which
readily accepted stories of divine intervention that he called “myth.” Bultmann believed that in
modern times, we know that God does not intervene in miraculous ways, so, to get at the true meaning of the
text, the New Testament must be “demythologized”—that is, the miraculous elements must be stripped away to
get at what is most important. For Bultmann, the importance is that, in Christ, God has done some good for
humanity. In Christ God did something, but it is not so important to nail down exactly what He did or any details
about the life of the “historical Jesus.”

Bultmann is one more scholar in a long line of (primarily German) scholars who sought to present Christianity in
a way that would make it more acceptable to the “modern” mind that rejects the idea of supernatural
intervention. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Rudolf-Bultmann.html)

As you can see, skeptics of God’s Word became prolific. They attacked the veracity of the Gospel
writers and the confirming miracles that Jesus performed. Rather than accept the Gospels at
face value, the chose to reinterpret what they wrote to fit their modern views. The Bible
predicts in 2 Timothy 3:2 that as the history of the world progresses, that men will slander His
world. Verse 5 concludes with, “Have nothing to do with such people.” In other words, don’t pay attention to
their worldly ideas. Today, such skeptics are prolific.

Jude 3:3 challenges every believer to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the
“
saints.” I hope you are one who stands upon God’s Word against all who would attack it as true.
Establishment of Presbyterian missions in Korea - 1884 –– today 30% is Christian

Prior to the 1880s, Korea maintained a closed face to the world, earning the name “Hermit Kingdom” in some
western circles. Catholic missionaries started venturing into the country in the late 16th century but had little
sustained success.
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