Barth's Earlier Theology: Four Studies

by John B. Webster

In this new book, Webster continues the work that he initiated in Barth's Moral Theology. He addresses the important topics of biblical exegesis and historical theology in Barth's early writing, and develops his own line of interpretation of Barth's theology in general. Webster suggests that the traditional accounts of Barth's development are inadequate: they tend to emphasize his cultural and philosophical context, to focus on the same limited selection of his writings and to misjudge his theological intentions, regarding him as a purely transcendental thinker or as a postmodernist. In this book Webster provides detailed interpretations of early texts that have received little attention, such as Barth's work on 1 Corinthians, on the Reformed Confessions, and on modern Protestant theology. Webster draws out the significance of Barth's early biblical exegesis and historical theology, and shows how his work in both fields was conceived from the beginning as important preparation for his future dogmatic work.

Genres: Theology

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Professor 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

Reviews

[David Goetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

These four studies of Barth's earlier theology do a great job of clearing the ground for reappraisal of Barth and his theological development. Webster demonstrates "Barth's preoccupation with the tasks of historical theology and biblical exegesis" (1) during his years at Gottingen and Munster, and he argues that many of the theological positions explicit in the Church Dogmatics were implicit or incipient in his earlier work. He also demonstrates that Barth believed from the start in the coinherence of dogmatics and ethics--a deepening of his work in Barth's Ethics of Reconciliation.

Each of the four studies takes up a particular series of lectures: The Theology of Zwingli (1922-23), The Theology of the Reformed Confessions (1923), 1 Corinthians (1923), and Protestant Theology in the 19th-century (1926 and a few times after).

Highly recommended!

"Opponents have sharp eyes, as a rule sharper than partisans and always sharper than the so-called impartial or neutral" (22).
"The practices of exegesis are the field of the Spirit's speech" (60).
"The all-determining reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is rich in recreative power" (85).
"Love is ... the surrender of the isolated person" (88).
"Let it be said in warning that with every step which exceeds careful listening and the careful asking of questions, one may, not inevitably but very easily, make oneself look ridiculous" (96-97).

[Mark Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone just coming to, or returning, to read Barth should read this first. Ground clearing, cutting down all the mythologies about Barth that have arisen and distorted the perception of his theology.