Historical Theology: Contemporary Theology (20th–21st Century)
Contemporary theology in the 20th and 21st centuries reflects a dynamic tension between the authority of past traditions and the demands of present contexts. No theological work arises in isolation; every doctrine builds upon the foundations of Scripture and tradition while responding to new cultural, philosophical, and social questions. The modern era has raised challenges such as the relationship between creation and Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the role of human experience in theology.
What makes contemporary theology distinctive is its pluralism. Unlike earlier centuries shaped by dominant confessions or movements, the modern period presents a range of competing approaches, from liberalism and neo-orthodoxy to liberation and postmodern theology. This pluralism can enrich reflection on the Gospel but also risks diluting its authority. For the church, the task is to discern how theology today can remain faithful to Christ’s kingship while speaking to the pressing issues of the age.
1. Continuity with Historical Traditions
Even in its innovations, contemporary theology cannot escape its roots in historical traditions. The creeds, confessions, and councils of the early church continue to shape doctrinal reflection. For example, the Chalcedonian definition of Christ’s two natures remains a reference point for Christology, even among modern theologians who reinterpret its meaning.
This continuity highlights two truths:
Theological dependence – Every age builds on prior reflection, showing the church’s unity across time.
Doctrinal stability – Central dogmas, such as the Trinity and the incarnation, anchor theology amid changing cultural winds.
However, while rooted in tradition, modern theology often seeks to restate or reconstruct doctrines in light of new philosophical and cultural questions. This is where the tension between faithfulness and innovation emerges.
2. Liberalism and the Rise of Experience
At the dawn of the 20th century, liberal theology emphasized human experience, ethics, and culture as sources for understanding God. Thinkers such as Friedrich Schleiermacher shaped theology around the “feeling of absolute dependence,” while later theologians elevated reason and social progress.
Liberal theology produced some positive contributions, such as highlighting the ethical implications of the Gospel and encouraging engagement with culture. However, its weaknesses soon became evident:
Reduced authority of Scripture – The Bible was often treated as a historical record of human religious experience rather than divine revelation.
Dilution of doctrine – Core Christian beliefs, such as the atonement or resurrection, were reinterpreted symbolically rather than historically.
Overconfidence in human progress – Liberalism’s optimism collapsed in the face of two world wars.
The rise of liberalism illustrates how grounding theology in human experience rather than God’s Word inevitably leads to revisionism.
3. Neo-Orthodoxy and Return to Revelation
In reaction to the failures of liberal theology, neo-orthodoxy emerged, emphasizing the transcendence of God and the authority of divine revelation. Karl Barth, its central figure, insisted that theology must begin with God’s self-disclosure in Christ, not human experience or reason.
Neo-orthodoxy reasserted the primacy of revelation:
Christ as the center – All theology is oriented around the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Scripture as witness – The Bible is the authoritative testimony to God’s revelation.
Critique of culture – Neo-orthodoxy warned against aligning the church too closely with political or social systems.
This return to revelation revitalized theology and re-centered the church’s task on proclaiming Christ. Yet some critics argue neo-orthodoxy did not go far enough in affirming Scripture’s inerrancy or addressing practical ethical issues.
4. Liberation, Contextual, and Postmodern Theologies
The second half of the 20th century saw theology shaped by global struggles and cultural questions.
Liberation theology in Latin America emphasized God’s concern for the poor and oppressed, reading Scripture through the lens of social and political liberation (Luke 4:18).
Contextual theologies in Asia, Africa, and Indigenous settings sought to express the Gospel in culturally resonant ways, though at times risking accommodation to cultural norms.
Postmodern theology critiqued the Enlightenment confidence in universal reason, stressing pluralism, diversity, and narrative.
These movements highlighted important biblical themes—justice, contextual engagement, and humility—but also revealed new dangers: subordinating doctrine to ideology, relativizing truth, and fragmenting theology into competing perspectives.
5. Pluralism and the Task of Theology Today
Contemporary theology is marked by pluralism. There is no single dominant theological school but rather a patchwork of approaches: conservative, liberal, critical, contextual, feminist, evangelical, and more. This pluralism reflects the global nature of Christianity in the 21st century but also raises questions of unity and authority.
The task of theology today is to:
Remain rooted in Scripture – The Bible is the unchanging foundation amid theological diversity.
Proclaim Christ’s kingship – The Gospel is not simply a matter of personal salvation but the announcement that Jesus reigns over all creation (Colossians 1:16–20).
Engage culture critically – Theology must address modern challenges without surrendering to them.
Hold an eschatological vision – Theology points to the last days when all nations will confess Christ as Lord (Philippians 2:10–11).
In this way, contemporary theology can serve the church’s mission without losing its biblical anchor.
Conclusion
Contemporary theology in the 20th and 21st centuries reveals both the creativity and the fragmentation of modern theological reflection. From liberalism’s overconfidence in human experience to neo-orthodoxy’s return to revelation, from liberation’s call for justice to postmodern pluralism, the period reflects a struggle to articulate the Gospel in changing contexts.
The challenge for the church is clear: theology must engage culture but not be ruled by it. It must listen to new questions but answer them with the unchanging Word of God. Above all, theology must proclaim the kingship of Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
In the end, the future of theology does not rest in human innovation but in the Gospel itself, which stands firm until the day when Christ returns to make all things new.
Bible Verses on Theology and Faithfulness
Psalm 119:89 – “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
Acts 17:30–31 – “God…has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
1 Corinthians 2:2 – “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Colossians 1:16–20 – “All things were created through him and for him…making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Philippians 2:10–11 – “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
