On the one hand, these theories are beginning to sound unrealistic, even when they are interpreted symbolically, they are too far removed from ordinary experience to command respect. On the other hand, this situation is reinforced by present-day historical consciousness and its highlighting of the humanity of Jesus. .
Jesus as Savior .
The experience of Jesus as savior developed unevenly, so that the New Testament contains a pluralism of interpretations of salvation. This fact emerges from a study of concepts of salvation in the New Testament. One would expect such pluralism because of the spread and development of the appreciation of Jesus as savior in different communities with different traditions. It should be clear from the outset that salvation from God designates a transcendent reality and as such it subsists in absolute mystery. Therefore no expression of what this salvation is, no reflective symbol, and no "explanation" of how it is accomplished is adequate to the reality itself. Thus one should infer that salvation will be conceived in a variety of different methods. .
At the same time the rich variety of conceptions of salvation reflected in the New Testament writings, which are in some measure complicated among themselves, can be summed up by a reduction to simplicity. Reduced to simplicity, Jesus makes God present in a saving way. This statement is so simple that within the context it is almost self-evident. Yet it is all-encompassing. It includes the multiplicity of notions of salvation. It does not reduce to a least common denominator but to the fullest possible denominator. Various conceptions of salvation are drawn up into it by means of its concrete simplicity. What kind of God does Jesus make present? How is God made present in a saving way? In other words, salvation must be specified a good deal further.
The Meaning of Jesus' Salvation.
We come now to our central point.