Original Research - Special Collection: Ignatius van Wyk Dedication

Wolfhart Pannenberg se ekumeniese bydrae tot die debat oor kerkeenheid en die regverdigingsleer

Ignatius W.C. van Wyk
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 74, No 4 | a5034 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i4.5034 | © 2018 Ignatius W.C. (Natie) Van Wyk | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 17 April 2018 | Published: 27 August 2018

About the author(s)

Ignatius W.C. van Wyk, Department Church History and Church Polity, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Wolfhart Pannenberg would have been 90 years old in 2018. This article is a tribute to his excellent contribution to the ecumenical debate on church unity and the importance to reach an agreement on the doctrine of justification. The first step is to explain Pannenberg’s Lutheran understanding of church unity. Secondly, Pannenberg’s contribution to mobilise understanding for the ecumenical efforts in coming to an agreement on the doctrine of justification is discussed. His efforts in convincing theologians that one cannot work towards church unity while churches continue to condemn one another for having different views on doctrinal matters, receive special attention. Pannenberg’s effort to convince his colleagues that one should approach these sensitive ecumenical matters from the perspective of present-day historical-critical thinking is also mentioned. The article concludes with a judgement on his approach and his success in these matters.

Keywords

Pannenberg; doctrine of justification; church unity; Joint Declaration

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