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Church Dogmatics (Study Edition) #7
Church Dogmatics: II.1 The Doctrine of the Word of God §§ 25–27
The most important theological work of the 20th century in a new edition - now available in individual volumes.
296 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1986
About the author
Karl Barth
490 books273 followersProtestant theologian Karl Barth, a Swiss, advocated a return to the principles of the Reformation and the teachings of the Bible; his published works include
Church Dogmatics
from 1932.
Critics hold Karl Barth among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important since Saint Thomas Aquinas. Beginning with his experience as a pastor, he rejected his typical predominant liberal, especially German training of 19th century.
Instead, he embarked on a new path, initially called dialectical, due to its stress on the paradoxical nature of divine truth—for instance, God is both grace and judgment), but more accurately called a of the Word. Critics referred to this father of new orthodoxy, a pejorative term that he emphatically rejected. His thought emphasized the sovereignty of God, particularly through his innovative doctrine of election. His enormously influenced throughout Europe and America.
Critics hold Karl Barth among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important since Saint Thomas Aquinas. Beginning with his experience as a pastor, he rejected his typical predominant liberal, especially German training of 19th century.
Instead, he embarked on a new path, initially called dialectical, due to its stress on the paradoxical nature of divine truth—for instance, God is both grace and judgment), but more accurately called a of the Word. Critics referred to this father of new orthodoxy, a pejorative term that he emphatically rejected. His thought emphasized the sovereignty of God, particularly through his innovative doctrine of election. His enormously influenced throughout Europe and America.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 4, 2024
Loved the stuff about theological language, some bits were tedious and repetitive but worth the grind to get to the gold.
January 5, 2024
First of all, a thought I've been having recently is that I tend to forget why I am even reading these books. I easily get prideful in why I want to read them, just wanting to sound smarter and engage more critically in random dialogues I might encounter or in a Bible study or a discussion with friends. Hope that I can just enjoy the journey and be humble as I learn.
So, Barth mentions that in the Church of Jesus Christ, men speak about God and men have to hear about God. After all, in the previous volume, we read that theology should inform the church by providing theological clarity and guidance for its proclamation (in line with Scripture). This volume says that "In the doctrine of God, we have to learn what we are saying when we say 'God '" and "We have to learn how far we can know God and therefore speak and hear about Him.” So, it details about our knowledge of God's revelation. Here is Barth's summary:
Finished review, easy! Well, this just means Barth emphasizes that understanding God is only possible through God's self-revelation and grace, rather than human reasoning or analogies, as he criticizes natural theology in major length with four main concepts. These concepts make sense, but it makes you think, what role does natural theology play in faith dialogue? Barth cautions against relying on natural theology as a means to understand God, and he points out that even though natural theology might be seen as a stepping stone towards understanding the true God, it ultimately falls short. For example, using strategic argumentation or persuasion tactics that do not genuinely engage with the other person's perspective.
What does true knowledge ultimately rest upon? God's revelation.
Barth mentions somewhere in the last 60 or so pages that our theological pursuits are less about human achievement in understanding the divine and more about appreciating the grace that makes this understanding possible. Awesome.
I'm excited to read the next section after looking at its thesis. Section 28 Thesis:
So, Barth mentions that in the Church of Jesus Christ, men speak about God and men have to hear about God. After all, in the previous volume, we read that theology should inform the church by providing theological clarity and guidance for its proclamation (in line with Scripture). This volume says that "In the doctrine of God, we have to learn what we are saying when we say 'God '" and "We have to learn how far we can know God and therefore speak and hear about Him.” So, it details about our knowledge of God's revelation. Here is Barth's summary:
How far is God known? and how far is God knowable? We have answered these questions in principle in the two previous sections. We may summarise our answer in the statement that God is known by God and by God alone."
Finished review, easy! Well, this just means Barth emphasizes that understanding God is only possible through God's self-revelation and grace, rather than human reasoning or analogies, as he criticizes natural theology in major length with four main concepts. These concepts make sense, but it makes you think, what role does natural theology play in faith dialogue? Barth cautions against relying on natural theology as a means to understand God, and he points out that even though natural theology might be seen as a stepping stone towards understanding the true God, it ultimately falls short. For example, using strategic argumentation or persuasion tactics that do not genuinely engage with the other person's perspective.
”Now, suppose the partner in the conversation discovers that faith is trying to use the well-known artifice of dialectic in relation to him. We are not taking him seriously because we withhold from him what we really want to say and represent.”
What does true knowledge ultimately rest upon? God's revelation.
"The humanity of Jesus Christ as such is the first sacrament, the foundation of everything that God instituted and used in His revelation as a secondary objectivity."
Barth mentions somewhere in the last 60 or so pages that our theological pursuits are less about human achievement in understanding the divine and more about appreciating the grace that makes this understanding possible. Awesome.
I'm excited to read the next section after looking at its thesis. Section 28 Thesis:
"God is who He is in the act of His revelation. God seeks and creates fellowship between Himself and us, and therefore He loves us. But He is this loving God without us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the freedom of the Lord, who has His life from Himself."
July 29, 2014
Magisterial.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews