--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Theology moves back and forth between two…" description: "\"Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the eternal truth of its foundations and the temporal situation in which the eternal truth must be rec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/paul-tillich-3183_back-and-forth_theology-moves-back-and-forth-between-tw_2482252.jpg" --- # Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the… ![“Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the eternal truth of its foundations and the temporal situation in which the eternal truth must be received.” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/paul-tillich-3183_back-and-forth_theology-moves-back-and-forth-between-tw_2482252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/paul-tillich-3183_back-and-forth_theology-moves-back-and-forth-between-tw_2482252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/paul-tillich-3183_back-and-forth_theology-moves-back-and-forth-between-tw_2482252.jpg) > “Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the eternal truth of its foundations and the temporal situation in which the eternal truth must be received.” [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theology balances timeless truths with the changing contexts in which they are understood. **In simple terms:** Eternal truths meet changing times. Key Takeaway Adapt teachings to current contexts. Themes theology eternity context Mood analytical thoughtful Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - church preaching - academic study - interfaith dialogue - personal belief Key Concepts dialectical thinking reception theory Questions to Reflect On - How does context shape belief? - Can eternal truths stay relevant? A Different Perspective Modern contexts may distort original meanings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back and forth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-and-forth/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-truth/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Temporal Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporal-situation-876737/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Theology Moves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology-moves-876736/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Received](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-received-373589/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [“theology moves in the opposite direction of social theory,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-davison-hunter/theology-moves-in-the-opposite-direction-of-social-theory/) [James Davison Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-davison-hunter/) > [The truth is not what we received today. Once again, we are being used as props in a Pentagon public relations exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-tillman/the-truth-is-not-what-we-received-today-once-again-we-are-being-used/) [Pat Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-tillman/) > [Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly. To expect the world to receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/truth-is-born-into-this-world-only-with-pangs-and-tribulations-and-2/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/truth-is-born-into-this-world-only-with-pangs-and-tribulations-and/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [Why does philosophy use concepts and why does faith use symbols if both try to express the same ultimate? The answer, of course, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/why-does-philosophy-use-concepts-and-why-does-faith-use-symbols-if/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Nature utters her voice in lessons of heavenly wisdom and eternal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/nature-utters-her-voice-in-lessons-of-heavenly-wisdom-and-eternal/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [It should be remembered, as an axiom of eternal truth in politics, that whatever power in any government is independent, is absolute also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-should-be-remembered-as-an-axiom-of-eternal-truth-in-politics-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The entire world is wandering about in search of the truth (satya). The absolute Self (Parmatma) which has already become illuminated within; It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-entire-world-is-wandering-about-in-search-of-the-truth-satya-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Oh, now, life, life! I lifted up my hands and called upon eternal truth, not with words, but with tears; ecstasy, immeasurable ecstasy flooded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/oh-now-life-life-i-lifted-up-my-hands-and-called-upon-eternal-truth/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [And if you love the light, then you come to the light to be proved, and tried whether your works be wrought in God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fell/and-if-you-love-the-light-then-you-come-to-the-light-to-be-proved-and/) [Margaret Fell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fell/) > [Never by hatred is hatred appeased, but it is appeased by kindness. This is an eternal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/never-by-hatred-is-hatred-appeased-but-it-is-appeased-by-kindness/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Crude absurdities, trivial nonsense, and sublime truths are equally potent in readying people for self-sacrifice if they are accepted as the sole, eternal truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/crude-absurdities-trivial-nonsense-and-sublime-truths-are-equally/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Establish the eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not the way to escape war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/establish-the-eternal-truth-that-acquiescence-under-insult-is-not-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Wherever there has been expansion in love or progress in well-being, of individuals or numbers, it has been through the perception, realisation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/wherever-there-has-been-expansion-in-love-or-progress-in-well-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-say-then-to-anyone-who-is-under-trial-give-him-time-to-steep-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paul Tillich > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-is-the-state-of-being-ultimately-concerned/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/he-who-risks-and-fails-can-be-forgiven-he-who-never-risks-and-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Symbols have one characteristic in common with signs; they point beyond themselves to something else. The red sign at the street corner points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/symbols-have-one-characteristic-in-common-with-signs-they-point/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In those who rest on their unshakable faith, pharisaism and fanaticism are the unmistakable symptoms of doubt which has been repressed. Doubt is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-those-who-rest-on-their-unshakable-faith-pharisaism-and-fanaticism/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [When you love someone and you love them with your heart, it never disappears when you're apart. Anh when you love someone and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/when-you-love-someone-and-you-love-them-with-your-heart-it-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/being-religious-means-asking-passionately-the-question-of-the-meaning/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The joy about our work is spoiled when we perform it not because of what we produce but because of the pleasure with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-joy-about-our-work-is-spoiled-when-we-perform-it-not-because-of/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In the courageous standing of uncertainty, faith shows most visibly its dynamic character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-the-courageous-standing-of-uncertainty-faith-shows-most-visibly/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [For love ... is the blood of life, the power of reunion in the separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/for-love-is-the-blood-of-life-the-power-of-reunion-in-the-separated/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Man's ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically, because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-s-ultimate-concern-must-be-expressed-symbolically-because/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [man is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-citizens-of-a-city-are-not-guilty-of-the-crimes-committed-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) [Explore all 136 Paul Tillich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## More Back and forth quotes > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. 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A leader who fluctuates back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/belief-in-oneself-is-a-crucial-quality-of-leadership-because-a-house/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [CS: I always say there's a tribal element in a rock concert. 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It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/real-communication-is-an-attitude-an-environment-it-is-the-most/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [People jump back and forth in pursuit of pleasures only because they see the emptiness of their lives more clearly than they do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/people-jump-back-and-forth-in-pursuit-of-pleasures-only-because-they/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [How long were the stretches of toilsome tacking back and forth, of being blocked, of being thrown back again and again. But all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/how-long-were-the-stretches-of-toilsome-tacking-back-and-forth-of/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [The relationship with the words someone uses is more intimate and integrated than just a quick read and a blurb can ever be. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/the-relationship-with-the-words-someone-uses-is-more-intimate-and/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [ One day he \[Wagner\] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. 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