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Karl Barth (1886-1968) has been called the most important Protestant theologian since Schleiermacher. A lifetime of work produced a complex body of writings that emerged both from his theological teaching and from his engagement in church life. The publication of some of his work posthumously has invited fresh and attentive interpretations of his thought. This book draws together these readings to provide an introduction to the main themes in Barth's theology. It shows the continuity and coherence of Barth's work, and stresses the importance of his biblical and ethical writings alongside his systematic theology. The book opens with a study of Barth's ethical thinking in key writings from the period of his break with theological liberalism. It then goes on to highlight the moeal anthropology set out in his lectures on ethics from the end of the 1920s. Webster studies the themes of original sin, hope and freedom in Barth's "Church Dogmatics", illustrating Barth's concern to prove that divine grace shapes and restores human agency. He also explores the theme of missionary activity of the church in relation to Barth's remarkable treatment of the prophetic office of Christ, and draws a contrast between the moral anthroplogy of Bart and Luther. In conclusion, he focuses on Barth's response to modernity, postmodernity and the tasks of theology.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
John B. Webster
47 books40 followersProfessor John B. Webster, MA, PhD, DD, FRSE was a notable contemporary British theologian of the Anglican communion writing in the area of systematic, historical and moral theology. He was educated at the independent co-educational Bradford Grammar School and at the University of Cambridge.
See also: John Webster
Image: Drawn by Rachel Nigh
See also: John Webster
Image: Drawn by Rachel Nigh
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 9, 2026
This is such a helpful overview of Barth’s thought. Webster is delightful to read, as always.
Quote from the opening paragraph of the final chapter: “Barth was a theologian to the core. He considered theological work (not just dogmatics, but also biblical, historical and practical theology) to be indispensable and irreplaceable in the life of the Christian community. Without theology, the necessary clarification and critique of the church's speech and action could not be accomplished, for those tasks could not be devolved on to other intellectual disciplines. Barth thought of theology as a spiritual activity, an exercise of reason under the tutelage and judgement of revelation, undertaken in the sphere of the church and demanding of its practitioners a readiness for intellectual repentance and sanctification. He remained healthily ironic about whether any theology (especially his own) even approximated to this ideal, but the ideal animated his teaching and writing to the end. In one sense, Barth is a theologian's theologian. This is not because he laid great store by academic professionalism: he often felt rather on the margins of the scholarly guild and always considered the church, not the academy, to be his primary public. It is more that Barth was consumed by a sense of the importance of theology for the life of the church and expected his readers to share his passion. He was one of the few first-rate thinkers of the twentieth century whose mind was wholly mastered by the conceptual culture of Christian dogmatics, and he talked and wrote about its intricacies with single-mindedness, delight and seemingly limitless energy.”
Quote from the opening paragraph of the final chapter: “Barth was a theologian to the core. He considered theological work (not just dogmatics, but also biblical, historical and practical theology) to be indispensable and irreplaceable in the life of the Christian community. Without theology, the necessary clarification and critique of the church's speech and action could not be accomplished, for those tasks could not be devolved on to other intellectual disciplines. Barth thought of theology as a spiritual activity, an exercise of reason under the tutelage and judgement of revelation, undertaken in the sphere of the church and demanding of its practitioners a readiness for intellectual repentance and sanctification. He remained healthily ironic about whether any theology (especially his own) even approximated to this ideal, but the ideal animated his teaching and writing to the end. In one sense, Barth is a theologian's theologian. This is not because he laid great store by academic professionalism: he often felt rather on the margins of the scholarly guild and always considered the church, not the academy, to be his primary public. It is more that Barth was consumed by a sense of the importance of theology for the life of the church and expected his readers to share his passion. He was one of the few first-rate thinkers of the twentieth century whose mind was wholly mastered by the conceptual culture of Christian dogmatics, and he talked and wrote about its intricacies with single-mindedness, delight and seemingly limitless energy.”
July 21, 2025
As always Webster is instructive and lucid. Will be the first book I recommend to those trying to wrap their minds around Barth. Would have loved, for my own benefit, a further expansion on Book IV.
July 29, 2020
Solid introduction to Barth. If you want an intro that accounts not only for the Church Dogmatics but also for Barth's early lectures (historical, dogmatic, ethical, exegetical) and the other posthumous materials, this is the one you want.
If you're interested in Webster and want to get his interpretation of Barth on [fill in the blank] but don't want to read Barth's Ethics of Reconciliation, Barth's Moral Theology, The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth, and/or Barth's Earlier Theology, this is the best place to start.
"The gospel is not an intra-mural exercise but the truth of the world's reconciliation" (x). Barth was marked by a "mild but dogged intensity" (12) and used, especially in his early period, "jagged, ceaselessly interrogative rhetoric" (28). The word of the gospel sets us in "a dialogue which we cannot escape" (32). Dogmatics is "a work that praises its master" (40). "God is only in the first person" (42). "Ruling grace is commanding grace" (92). Jesus is "the sum of the divine address" (104). Because of sin, every one of us is "irreparably, radically, and totally guilty before God both individually and corporately" (124). "The sinner is crooked even in the knowledge of his crookedness" (124). "Whatever evil is, God is its Lord" (125). Dogmatics is truth which summons; ethics is truth which summons. "Invocation catches exactly the relation between God's grace and the responsive human act of free obedience. Prayer can be considered the paradigmatic human moral action" (158). God is "the living Father of his living children" (159).
"If we once neglect Barth's strict insistence that the traffic always proceeds from the particular to the general and not vice versa, then he will soon share the fate of other major theological figures--becoming a mere emblematic figure whose authority is invoked but whose texts remain unread" (169).
In the words of the humanists, Ad fontes!
If you're interested in Webster and want to get his interpretation of Barth on [fill in the blank] but don't want to read Barth's Ethics of Reconciliation, Barth's Moral Theology, The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth, and/or Barth's Earlier Theology, this is the best place to start.
"The gospel is not an intra-mural exercise but the truth of the world's reconciliation" (x). Barth was marked by a "mild but dogged intensity" (12) and used, especially in his early period, "jagged, ceaselessly interrogative rhetoric" (28). The word of the gospel sets us in "a dialogue which we cannot escape" (32). Dogmatics is "a work that praises its master" (40). "God is only in the first person" (42). "Ruling grace is commanding grace" (92). Jesus is "the sum of the divine address" (104). Because of sin, every one of us is "irreparably, radically, and totally guilty before God both individually and corporately" (124). "The sinner is crooked even in the knowledge of his crookedness" (124). "Whatever evil is, God is its Lord" (125). Dogmatics is truth which summons; ethics is truth which summons. "Invocation catches exactly the relation between God's grace and the responsive human act of free obedience. Prayer can be considered the paradigmatic human moral action" (158). God is "the living Father of his living children" (159).
"If we once neglect Barth's strict insistence that the traffic always proceeds from the particular to the general and not vice versa, then he will soon share the fate of other major theological figures--becoming a mere emblematic figure whose authority is invoked but whose texts remain unread" (169).
In the words of the humanists, Ad fontes!
September 7, 2026
Eine nette kleine Einführung in die wichtigsten Punkte von Barths Leben und in die Themen seines Römerbriefkommentars + der KD
June 24, 2012
A good introduction to Barth that hammers home the Swiss theologian's scholarship in totality (arguing the seeds can be traced back to early works in the 1920s) and corrects some of the prevalent criticisms or slogans attributed to him. The conclusion discusses the difficulty of categorizing Barth as pre-modern, modern, or postmodern in outlook. For someone who studies American religious thought, but of groups largely opposed to or distant from Barth (conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists), this was a great introduction that points to the areas most fruitful for further reading.
December 8, 2012
I read the second edition. This is an incredibly helpful introduction to Barth's thought. It is also, I think, rather accessible for both seriously interested non-academics as well as academics. Recommended.
November 26, 2008
I really enjoyed Websters step by step approach to Barth's thought. This book really should be read while working through the Dogmatics or any other of Barth's writings.
August 4, 2010
The best "introduction" to Barth for students who already have some basic familiarity with him.
December 28, 2014
I pretty much love anything John Webster writes. Can't wait to get into Barth's Church Dogmatics!
October 8, 2015
A nice introduction of Barth. And you also get John Webster! A nice one-two punch.
December 31, 2015
I started this book in the spring of 2015 and stopped one-third of the way through, now I remember why. This book is neither very clear nor very helpful in understanding Barth's theology.
July 12, 2016
Good introduction to the person, Karl Barth, and his theology.
June 8, 2017
Very helpful introduction.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews