Emile Brunel

Emil Brunner (Heinrich Emil Brunner, also translated as Emil Brunner, 1889-1966) was a Swiss Protestant theologian and neo-orthodox theologian with far-reaching influence. Together with Karl Barth, he promoted the "Neo-Orthodox Theological Movement" (or "Dialectical Theology Movement") in German-speaking European countries in the first half of the 20th century, and was a representative figure of this theological proposition. Brunel objected to liberal theology's portrayal of Jesus as a moral figure worthy of respect. Brunel maintained that Jesus was not only the "incarnation" of God but also the center point of the "redemptive event." On the other hand, Brunel attempted to find an intermediate point between the ongoing debates between Arminianism and Calvinism. In addition to still emphasizing the sovereignty of God in the matter of salvation, Brunel also emphasized the view that humans can receive salvation without paying a price. Even though Brunel reasserted the centrality of Christology here, in line with the requirements of orthodox theology, conservative theologians often have reservations about his other theological claims. For example, he doubts the authenticity of the miracle records in the Bible and questions whether the texts in the Bible can be used as a source of revelation for modern Christians.