Page History

According to Bultmann, Jesus' call for decision for or against his person (cf. Mt. 11:6; Lk 12:8 f.; Mk 8:38) implies a christology. This christology cannot be a matter of theoretical observation, but can only be "the explication of the response of decision for him, of obedience to his word, of obedience that allows one's situation to be disclosed as new through him \[_die Explikation der Antwort der Entscheidung für ihn, des Gehorsams unter sein Wort, des Gehorsams, der sich durch ihn seine Situation als eine neue aufdecken läßt_\]" (_Glauben und Verstehen_, 1: 205).

From this it would seem that the "response of decision," or, simply, the "decision" of which christology is the explication has three defining characteristics:
1. it is a decision for Jesus;
2. it is obedience \[in the sense of obedient submission\] to Jesus' word; and
3. it is obedience that allows one's situation to be disclosed as a new one through Jesus.