Image of God as both fount and destiny of humanity: how Herderian is Pannenberg?

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that, despite the much discussed Hegelian influence on Pannenberg, Herder's thought plays a pivotal role in forming and shaping Pannenberg's theological work in the important areas of the image of God and human destiny. However, Pannenberg differentiates himself from Herder in a crucial respect in that Pannenberg grounds Herder's anthropology on a christological foundation in order to present a salvific rather than a providential account of the renewal of the imago Dei. This paper also offers a reflection upon other significant similarities and differences between these two major thinkers.