1. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘kerygma’.
Know 6 key elements of the kerygmata as presented by C.H. Dodd with reference to Acts 2:14-39 and Acts 3:12-26.
Understand the challenges to the kerygmata, with reference to the historical value of Acts and the work of Rudolf Bultmann.

2. Spec check – Component 1: Christianity Theme 1: Religious Figures and Sacred Texts
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 – Issues for Analysis and Evaluation
E) The early church (in Acts of the Apostles):
Its message and format: the kerygmata as presented by C. H. Dodd, with reference to Acts 2:14-39; 3:12-26.
The challenges to the kerygmata (with reference to the historical value of the speeches in Acts and the work of Rudolf Bultmann).
The adapting of the Christian message to suit the audience.
The extent to which the kerygmata (within the areas of Acts studied) are of any value for Christians today.
Whether the speeches in Acts have any historical value.

3. The Early Church – Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles is the earliest account we have of the spread of Christianity in the 1st century CE.
Connection: Theme 2E – the community of believers.
Most scholars agree that Acts was written by Luke, the author of the 3rd Gospel, between CE.

4. The Kerygma
‘Kerygma’ = from the Greek term for ‘preaching’ or ‘proclamation’. (Note: the plural form is ‘kerygmata’).
Think-Pair-Share: What do you think that the early Apostles in the book of Acts were proclaiming?

5. Learning check ... By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘kerygma’.
Know 6 key elements of the kerygmata as presented by C.H. Dodd with reference to Acts 2:14-39 and Acts 3:12-26.
Understand the challenges to the kerygmata, with reference to the historical value of Acts and the work of Rudolf Bultmann.

6. C. H. Dodd on kerygma
British New Testament scholar C.H. Dodd ( ) argued that kerygma is not to be confused with teaching (didache) and historical facts (though it can include both.)
Kerygma, for Dodd, is an announcement - a proclamation that “the unprecedented has happened: God has visited and redeemed His people.”

7. Kerygma in Acts 2 and 3
Acts 2 and 3 contains the first of many speeches by the Apostles in the book of Acts.
The kerygma (proclamation) in these speeches share the idea that God’s plan for salvation, unfolding through Jewish scriptures, has reached fulfilment in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This plan continues by the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.
Dodd argued that, at the heart of the kerygma, its readers are confronted with a decision.
What decision do you think its readers are confronted with?

8. Kerygma in Acts 2 and 3 Tasks: Read Acts 2:14-15
Think-Pair-Share: What had happened immediately before Peter addressed the crowd?
Read Acts 3:12
Think-Pair-Share: What had happened immediately before Peter addressed the onlookers?
2. The Holy Spirit had come upon the Apostles at Pentecost.
4. A man who had been lame from birth had been healed.

9. C.H. Dodd’s six elements of kerygma
Dodd identifies six main elements of kerygma in Acts:

10. C.H. Dodd’s six elements of kerygma
Challenge: Identify Dodd’s six elements of kerygma in the set passages.
Follow the passage in your workbook as we watch the videos.
Acts 2:14-39 (Play from 11:19-15:24)
Acts 3:12-26 (Play from 18:55-21:22)

11. Learning check ... By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘kerygma’.
Know 6 key elements of the kerygmata as presented by C.H. Dodd with reference to Acts 2:14-39 and Acts 3:12-26.
Understand the challenges to the kerygmata, with reference to the historical value of Acts and the work of Rudolf Bultmann.

12. Challenges to the kerygma: The historical value of the speeches in Acts
Read the section ‘Is the book of Acts a trustworthy historical document?’ (p26 to the top of p27).
Summarise the key arguments in a table.
Don’t forget to match arguments where possible – see e.g. below:
AO1: Challenges to the kerygma
AO2: Whether the speeches in Acts have any historical value.
Acts is NOT a trustworthy historical document
Acts IS a trustworthy historical document
Luke is a Gentile, not a Jewish Christian. Therefore he wouldn’t have been present at some/any of the events he writes about.
Luke accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. He’d have access to first-hand accounts of the events he describes.
Allow 15 mins

13. Challenges to the kerygma: Is the kerygma relevant?
The kerygma is IRRELEVANT
The kerygma is RELEVANT
Jewish apocalypticism was a popular view in Jesus’ time.
This is the belief that God would bring the world to an end imminently and bring everyone to judgment.
Some scholars (such as Schweitzer) argue that Jesus and the early church held this view.
Seeing as the world did not end the kerygma is irrelevant!
Using the information on p28 of the Eduqas book, summarise why Dodd claims that the kerygma is relevant.
How does he counter the challenge from Jewish apocalypticism?
You must mention realised eschatology.
Note: the above points could be used in an AO2 question on ‘the extent to which the kerygmata (within the areas of Acts studied) are of any value for Christians today.’

14. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
Rudolf Bultmann ( ) agrees with Dodd’s view that the kerygma is an announcement/ proclamation rather than a doctrine or teaching.
Connection: 1B – Bultmann’s view on the resurrection as a myth.
However, Bultmann regarded the New Testament to be full of myths that modern people cannot accept.
Q: Where have we come across Bultmann’s view on myth before? What can you remember about it?

16. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
Bultmann saw two main mythologies at work in the New Testament:
An apocalyptic mythology – belief that the world is going to end soon.
A Gnostic mythology – belief that Jesus is a divine redeemer born to a virgin. (Bultmann claims Christians adapted this view from the Gnostics, who believed that a being of light was sent to humanity bringing knowledge that enabled humans to be set free from being trapped in an evil world.)
Q: Why might Bultmann argue that the above views cannot be believed today?

17. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
Bultmann argued that we must distinguish the kerygma from the myth so that it becomes relevant in our lives.
This is achieved by exploring the myth to discover the underlying truths about humanity and existence that are being expressed.
Bultmann said that when the disciples encountered Jesus, something new awakened in them – they had a new hope and vision.

18. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
They encountered this new awakening because the kerygma itself expresses some basic truths about humanity:
We are not in charge of the world
Our plans and powers are finite
There is a transcendent power in the universe
There is forgiveness
It’s false to think we can/should control life
It’s possible to find a spirit of openness to the future.
Challenge:
Identify two of these ‘truths’ about humanity in the Acts passages we have studied.

19. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
Bultmann believed that there is a power behind the words of the Apostles that leads to a deep personal confrontation for those who hear/read them.
Bultmann says that this can be seen clearly in Acts 2:37: ‘Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other Apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”’
The kerygma for Bultmann is a personal message that proclaims truth and elicits a response.

20. Challenges to the kerygma: Rudolph Bultmann
Beat the text book!
What criticisms of Bultmann can you think of?
Now, let’s check to see if we beat the text book (p30)

21. “The kerygmata still have value for Christians today.”
AO2 Skills
“The kerygmata still have value for Christians today.”
Evaluate this view. [30 marks].
Create an agree/disagree table for the above question.
First, think of your own arguments.
Then, read the SAMs points and pages of the Eduqas book and add to your table.
Finally, select some of the arguments from your table to transfer to an AO2 planning sheet, making sure you EVALUATE each point.

22. Learning check ... By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘kerygma’.
Know 6 key elements of the kerygmata as presented by C.H. Dodd with reference to Acts 2:14-39 and Acts 3:12-26.
Understand the challenges to the kerygmata, with reference to the historical value of Acts and the work of Rudolf Bultmann.