Eberhard Jüngel

Eberhard Jüngel (5 December 1934 – 28 September 2021) was a German Lutheran theologian. He was Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and the Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Tübingen.

Life and work Jüngel was born in Magdeburg on 5 December 1934 as the son of the electrician Kurt Jüngel and his wife Margarete née Rothemann, into a non-religious home. After World War II, Magdeburg was located in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). He remembered that his decision to pursue a career in theology was met with "the concerned astonishment" of his mother and "the resolute refusal" of his father.' He concluded his undergraduate theological studies in Switzerland in 1957 and 1958, working with Gerhard Ebeling at the University of Zürich, and attending Karl Barth's seminars at the University of Basel and Martin Heidegger's lectures (eventually published as "Unterwegs zur Sprache"). (Paulus and Jesus. An investigation to clarify the question of the origin of Christology). Despite a plethora of offers for positions at other universities, Jüngel remained at Tübingen until his retirement in 2003.

Jüngel held a number of additional positions throughout his academic career: Between 1987 and 2005, he was Ephorus (Director) of , a Protestant house of studies and teaching founded in 1536 in a former Augustinian monastery. also Chancellor of the Order Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, and a member of the Synod of the Protestant Church in Germany. In 1994, he received the Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and in 2000 the Medal of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg. Jüngel received honorary doctorates from the University of Greifswald and from the University of Basel.

Theology Main features of Jüngel's theology (Evolution and inner consistency): Paul and Jesus – Jüngel's thesis deals with the issues arising from the interpretation of the New Testament God's being is in becoming – His first book in the area of dogmatic theology Christology: exegesis and dogmatics – Understanding of the relationship between the historical and the dogmatic in Christology God the mystery of the world: speaking about God, thinking about God, the human god Atheism and the theology of death – His response to atheism, and his theology of death Anthropology and justification – Relation between God and man Anthropology and analogy – The man who expresses God Towards a theology of the natural – Confrontation of the Christian faith with the contemporary experience of reality