The relationship of Johannes de Silentio with abrahamic faith in Fear and Trembling

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore, through reference to the scriptural tradition, the underlying rationale for Søren Kierkegaard’s selection of Abraham as the “knight of faith” in Fear and Trembling. In this work, the Danish philosopher turns to an Old Testament figure, despite his aim of deepening the understanding of Christian faith. Abraham provides Kierkegaard with a paradigmatic case through which to examine the tension between ethics and faith—tension that serves as an indirect means of addressing the theological problem of law and grace. This dynamic, exemplified in the life of the patriarch of Israel, resonates closely with the apostle Paul’s critique of Jewish legalism and his defense of the gracious action of God in the emergence of early Christianity.