The Nachlass is not merely a collection of old papers; it is an essential resource for understanding the "Cullmann Method." By examining his unpublished notes, scholars can see how he rigorously applied the historical-critical method to the New Testament while maintaining a belief in the unfolding of a divine plan within human time.
Furthermore, the estate provides a behind-the-scenes look at the 20th-century theological "wars." While Cullmann often clashed with Bultmann over the "demythologization" of the Bible, their correspondence in the inventory reveals a deep, mutual respect that is often lost in public academic debates. Conclusion
The inventory is divided into several key sections that mirror Cullmann's multifaceted career as a professor in Strasbourg, Basel, and Paris:
The collection holds original drafts for his seminal works, such as Christ and Time (1946) and Salvation in History (1965). These documents allow researchers to trace the evolution of "Heilsgeschichte" (Salvation History)—his core theological concept—from early lecture notes to published monographs.
