A very interesting post from Mike Bird at Euangelion - here.
Since I've told you I got it via Mike, I hope it is ok to copy the quote from CK Barrett here:
Some historical element is not only admissible but is in fact essential, without it New Testament Theology will hardly escape degeneration into a collection of texta probantia. And the historian must not scorn the contribution of philosophical questioning to supplement his historical criticism. He who is master of both history and theology will write the greatest New Testament theology’.
C.K. Barrett, ‘Historia Theologiae Genetrix,’ in Aufgabe und Durchführung einer Theologie des Neuen Testaments, eds. C. Breytenbach and J. Frey (WUNT 205; Tübingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 2007), 205-6.
Yes. I wholly agree with this. Christianity is an historical faith, the elements of our faith as recorded in the Ecumenical Creeds are historical events. History alone, however, does not give us all we need, a robust theological approach to our faith, combined with rigorous historical study will furnish real insight into that revelation of God given through Jesus Christ his Son.
I note that Barrett does not mention a master of biblical critisicm. It is possible that this is subsumed within the heading 'theology', however, it need not be. An ability to read the bible well is an essential skill for all theologians, but as with history, it is not enough in itself.
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