The Brief Outline

This chapter explores Schleiermacher’s landmark work of theological encyclopedia, the Brief Outline of Theological Study. In a first section, the chapter surveys the contexts within which this work arose, considering both Enlightenment challenges to theological education and Schleiermacher’s own teaching career. A second section explores the content of the Brief Outline, offering a concise account of its four principal sections—its introduction, and its sections on philosophical theology, historical theology, and practical theology. In a third section, the chapter attends to the reception of the work and its attempt to hold the academic and the ecclesial together, exploring its historical influence and some critical responses. The conclusion reflects briefly upon the contemporary relevance of the Brief Outline.