{"id":2973,"date":"2023-04-18T18:57:50","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T01:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thepursuitofholiness\/?p=2973"},"modified":"2023-04-18T18:57:50","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T01:57:50","slug":"karl-barth-a-brief-analysis-of-his-book-evangelical-theology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thepursuitofholiness\/2023\/04\/karl-barth-a-brief-analysis-of-his-book-evangelical-theology\/","title":{"rendered":"Karl Barth: A Brief Analysis Of His Book “Evangelical theology”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Karl Barth was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century.\u00a0 He is known for his work on the Epistle to the Romans<\/em> and his Magnus Opus titled Church Dogmatics.\u00a0 <\/em>However, his work titled Evangelical Theology: An Introduction<\/em><\/a>, continues to make an impact in the world of theology.\u00a0 The book is different than his other works as it is a series of lectures that he gave throughout the United States[1]<\/a>.\u00a0 Barth is pretty up front in regards to the work and calls it an introduction to everything he set out to learn in the theological field[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Karl Barth\u2019s Evangelical Theology<\/h3>\n The book is broken up into four section with the first being the place of theology.\u00a0 Barth seeks to establish the importance of theology among the sciences.\u00a0 He describes that theology has at it center, the Word, and everything rises and falls from there.\u00a0 Scripture is the center of theology, and any theological response that goes beyond the Scriptures in meaningless[3]<\/a>.\u00a0 It is only through the Holy Spirit that the Queen of Sciences can be properly studied[4]<\/a>.<\/p>\n The next section is in regard to theological existence.\u00a0 Right away Bart has a warning for the theologian.\u00a0 He states that one should not be astonished in regard to theology, but at the same time should be afraid when the theologian finds himself no longer astonished[5]<\/a>.\u00a0 It is really a thought-provoking statement that lays the foundation for the rest of the section.\u00a0 The study of theology is a great commitment between man and God[6]<\/a>.\u00a0 It is a commitment that one must understand because it ill consume your life.\u00a0 Though this sounds negative, Barth is quick to say that this is actually a cause of freedom.\u00a0 The theologian is freed because he knows what he is called to do and is claimed for a higher purpose[7]<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The threat to theology is he next section that Barth confronts.\u00a0 This is an interesting section as Barth warns the theologian of things that will eventually weigh on the person.\u00a0 First he discussed solitude, and states that the theologians will feel isolated from the world and from within the church[8]<\/a>.\u00a0 This is because the work is done on one\u2019s own and not within a group like in a traditional work environment.\u00a0 His words on doubt, the next threat, are enlightening.\u00a0 The first doubt, the doubt of questions, results from the very work one is involved in.\u00a0 It is the search for truth in theology and must be endured.\u00a0 The second doubt, Barth calls the doubt of embarrassment.\u00a0 This questions scripture, God\u2019s presence, and even the very action of God[9]<\/a>.\u00a0 Barth gives hope and advice to one experiencing these, since they will happen, to endure[10]<\/a>.<\/p>\n This work concludes the fourth section with chapters on prayer, study, service, and love and calls them theological work.\u00a0 The theologian is advised to pray from the beginning to end of the work and to study.\u00a0 Barth says that prayer without study would be an empty pursuit[11]<\/a>.\u00a0 These two are needed so the theologian can do service in working with scripture.\u00a0 Lastly Barth discusses love.\u00a0 The love of God is what will sustain the theologian in theological pursuits.<\/p>\n Analysis Karl Barth\u2019s Book<\/strong><\/p>\n When one surveys leading theologians about this work by Karl Barth there are mixed reviews.\u00a0 Some like Cornelius Van Til call Barth an enemy while others such as Bruce McCormick try to defend Barth from misunderstandings[12]<\/a>.\u00a0 David Cogdon also makes the case that the theology of mission set forth by Barth is not as problematic as some may think[13]<\/a>.\u00a0 There is much within the work that is good and worthy of consideration.\u00a0 For example, the last section discussing theological work is something that everyone should consider.\u00a0 However, there are some things to critique in this work by Karl Barth.<\/p>\n In chapter two Barth describes theology as having to renounce apologetics[14]<\/a>.\u00a0 Though I understand why he said this it is misguided, nonetheless.\u00a0 Apologetics is in the service of theology and nit its enemy.\u00a0 It helps the theologian think through arguments and to dive deeper into scripture.\u00a0 Barth\u2019s thoughts on the solitude that the theologian will feel may be overblown.\u00a0 Especially when he states that there is no one around to assist if questions arise.[15]<\/a>\u00a0 That would be the fault of the theologian.\u00a0 Though the work of he theologian in personal, it does not need to be isolated.\u00a0 In my experience there are many who are willing to listen and discuss a thought.\u00a0 Barth, in discussing the history of scripture, states that the apostles lacked interest in everything Christ did apart from reconciling man to himself[16]<\/a>.\u00a0 Though that is no doubt the primary focus, there is much in the New Testament about Christian living and service.\u00a0 This is an oversimplification of the Christian life.\u00a0 It is surely important, but to say they had no interest is wrong.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Bibliography<\/h3>\n***** ** Barth, Karl. Evangelical Theology: An Introduction<\/em>. Translated by Grover Foley. First American edition. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979.<\/p>\n ** Guretzki, David. \u201cKarl Barth and the Making of Evangelical Theology, Clifford B. Anderson and Bruce L. McCormack (Eds.), Eerdmans, 2015 (ISBN 978-0-8028-7235-7), 237 Pp., Pb $34.\u201d Reviews in Religion and Theology<\/em> 22, no. 4 (2015): 307\u201310.<\/p>\n ** *****Webb, Stephen H. \u201cKarl Barth and Evangelical Theology \u2013 Edited by Sung Wook Chung.\u201d Reviews in Religion and Theology<\/em> 15, no. 2 (2008): 207\u20139.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a>. Karl Barth, Evangelical Theology: An Introduction<\/em>, trans. Grover Foley, First American edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979), v.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a>. Ibid, vi<\/p>\n [3]<\/a>. Barth, Evangelical Theology<\/em>, 16.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a>. Ibid., 51.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a>. Ibid., 63.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a>. Ibid., 85.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a>. Ibid., 86.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a>. Ibid., 109.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a>. Ibid., 124.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a>. Ibid., 145.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a>. Ibid., 171.<\/p>\n [12]<\/a>. Stephen H. Webb, \u201cKarl Barth and Evangelical Theology \u2013 Edited by Sung Wook Chung,\u201d Reviews in Religion and Theology<\/em> 15, no. 2 (2008).<\/p>\n [13]<\/a>. David Guretzki, \u201cKarl Barth and the Making of Evangelical Theology, Clifford B. Anderson and Bruce L. McCormack (Eds.), Eerdmans, 2015 (ISBN 978-0-8028-7235-7), 237 Pp., Pb $34,\u201d Reviews in Religion and Theology<\/em> 22, no. 4 (2015).<\/p>\n [14]<\/a>. Barth, Evangelical Theology<\/em>, 15.<\/p>\n [15]<\/a>. Ibid., 110.<\/p>\n [16]<\/a>. Ibid., 28.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Karl Barth was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century.\u00a0 He is known for his work on the Epistle to the Romans and his Magnus Opus titled Church Dogmatics.\u00a0 However, his work titled Evangelical Theology: An Introduction, continues to make an impact in the world of theology.\u00a0 The book is different than […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4296,"featured_media":2979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nKarl Barth: A Brief Analysis Of His Book "Evangelical theology"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Karl Barth was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century.\u00a0 He is known 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