Abstract

Chapter one offers an overview of the dissertation. The chapter sets forth the justification for the research, the purpose of the study, the sources of the research, and the organization of the dissertation. ;Chapter two is devoted to an overview of the epistemological question in the twentieth-century. This chapter surveys several major theological movements and notes their contribution to the epistemological question. This chapter highlights the relationship between epistemology and other vital themes in systematic theology. ;Chapter three explicates Pannenberg's methodology as it related to his epistemological tenor through a thematic analysis of his theology. This chapter discovered the suppositions which influence and inform his theology. This chapter includes an analysis of his theological center or starting point. Pannenberg's systematic theology defied a simplistic appeal to one overarching theme. His theology incorporates various driving themes. The chapter includes a review of Pannenberg's view of sources of religious knowledge. Included in this chapter is a discussion of the interrelatedness of faith and reason. For Pannenberg, faith and reason create a tension which holds theology in balance. Finally, this chapter investigates the presuppositions which inform Pannenberg's theology. ;Chapter four and five contain the central thrust of the dissertation. Chapter four opens with a section showing Pannenberg's reaction to several salient theological and philosophical movements. This chapter investigates Pannenberg's concept of truth. Specifically, this section explored his universality of truth and his coherence theory of truth. The discussion demonstrated how Pannenberg's epistemology compelled him to bring together various streams of philosophical thought under the rubric of systematic theology. This chapter concludes with an exploration of his theology via selected systematic themes: theology of God, christology, soteriology, revelation, and eschatology. This section demonstrates how Pannenberg tied all of theology together with the heuristic concept of sub ratione Dei. ;Chapter five critically evaluates Pannenberg's epistemological concept. This chapter gives special attention to his dialogue with various competing religious ideas and philosophies. This dialogue opened Pannenberg's epistemic theory to its harshest criticism. One of the central questions investigated in this chapter is how Pannenberg maintains universal truth in light of competing worldviews. Building on the foundational work in chapter four, this chapter critically evaluates selected salient theological concepts. This chapter concludes with a critical summation of his justification of religious knowledge and recommended changes. ;Chapter six reviewed the discoveries and conclusions drawn in the previous chapters