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Bultmann's statements to the effect that "God's act of salvation consists in his having instituted the 'ministry,' or 'word of reconciliation," or that "the action of God in its proper meaning is nothing other than instituting this word, proclaiming this word itself," are evidently close parallels to Knox's statements that the Christ event consists in the coming into being of the church, in the creation of the new community.

The difference, of course, is that Bultmann emphasizes word, while Knox emphasizes church or community. But this appears to be more a verbal, than anything like a real, difference. For Knox is no more willing to deny the constitutive function of the word than Bultmann is willing to deny the constitutive function of the church. In fact, Bultmann is explicit in explaining why word requires church as much as church requires word, since, being an authorized, or legitimated, word, the word requires an authorized bearer, or minister.

26 October 1989