On the occasion of Adolf von Harnac's 150th birthday anniversary on 7 May, this article gives a survey of recent editions of Harnack's writings and correspondence, of research on his biography and, finally, on his most popular book Das Wesen des Christentums (English title: What is Christianity?), first published in 1900. The author seeks to show that the focus of the study of Harnack has shifted over the past fifty years or so. Whereas initially Harnack provoked a lively debate on the essence of Christianity in the German Protestant churches and beyond, a debate still continued after the Second World War, during the Fifties under the influence of Barthianism interest in Harnack abated. During a second phase, since the Seventies, Harnack was increasingly studied by specialist theologians (church historians and systematic theologians) in doctoral theses and Habilitationsschriften. Most recently, there has been a renewed interest in Harnack on a larger scale. He is now granted that prominent place in the history of theology which he rightly deserves and is read with critical sympathy. The article attempts to explain the reasons for these shifts in interest.

Enthalten in:
Theologische Literaturzeitung; 2001/Nr.5 Monatsschrift für das gesamte Gebiet der Theologie und Religionswissenschaft (2001)

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Serie / Reihe: Theologische Literaturzeitung

Personen: Kinzig, Wolfram Harnack, Adolf von (gefeierte Person)

Schlagwörter: Literatur Lebenslaufforschung Harnack, Adolf von