The Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche (ZThK – Journal for Theology and Church) represents the central scholarly organ for the conveyance of historical-critical theology and church practice. To ensure that the critical service theology owes to the church’s administration of religion is provided, highest priority is given to the ability to engage in internal and external theological discourse as well as to the differentiation of perspectives and positional neutrality.
For the last 120 years, the Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche (ZThK – Journal for Theology and Church) has been the leading and all-encompassing German language periodical for Protestant theology. Founded in 1891 and shaped by Adolf von Harnack, Wilhelm Herrmann, and Martin Rade, it remains committed to upholding liberal Protestantism’s legacy of contemporary responsibility. After its publication was put on hold in 1938 following turbulent struggles within the German church, the journal was revived in 1950 under the editorship of Gerhard Ebeling. His successors – Eberhard Jüngel, Michael Beintker, and Albrecht Beutel ¬– have continued to steer the proven course, maintaining the traditional profile, yet ensuring that the ZThK is sensitive and open to current events.
The ZThK remains the main scholarly mouthpiece for the communication of historical-critical theology and church practice today. On its editorial board sit renowned representatives of all the theological disciplines as well as a church leader. Great importance is attached to the ability to engage in internal and external theological discourse as well as to the differentiation of perspectives and positional neutrality; for only in this way can the critical service theology owes to the church’s administration of religion be adequately rendered.
All contributions published in the ZThK undergo an anonymous double-blind review. In addition to German-language texts, studies in English are also occasionally offered to the readership. With each edition offering up-to-date research from a wide spectrum of theological disciplines, or appearing as a themed issue, the journal is published quarterly.
The Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche is listed in: ATLA Religion Database, Baidu Scholar, BiBIL, BIBP, BILDI, Ebsco Discovery Service, Index Religiosus, Index Theologicus, New Testament Abstracts, Old Testament Abstracts, SCOPUS, and Web of Science AHCI.
