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Karl Barth


24 Nov 2004

Karl Barth (1886-1968)

Major works

          Der Romerbrief

          Church Dogmatics (when he died in 1968, volume 13 was unfinished)

Importance

          German neoorthodox theologian

          Probably the most influential theologian of the 20th century

          Exposed bankruptcy of liberalism; reacted against liberalism by claiming that God, not man, is the chief actor in salvation

          Stressed God’s absolute transcendence

          Used dialectical theological method

          Held to the deity of Jesus

          Held orthodox view of Trinity

Soteriology

          Viewed salvation as an objective event—Christ objectively wrought salvation for all people by his victory on the cross

          Christ at his coming united the entire human race to himself; with his death the world’s sin was judged and in his resurrection the human race was vindicated

          Justification and sanctification are the outworking of the covenant made in eternity past to bring all men to God

          People contribute nothing to their salvation—faith, repentance, and obedience are manifestations of a finished salvation, not the means of salvation

          All persons are elected to life in Christ; Barth said “The doctrine of election is the sum of the Gospel.”

          In eternity past the Father determined that Jesus would be “elect God” and “elect man”; He is “elect God” in that he is the subject who would elect others; he is “elect man” in that he is the object of God’s election

          Had a novel view of double predestination—on the cross God said “No” to himself as Christ bore the sentence of man’s rejection—at Calvary God said “Yes” to his son and the people in him

          Rejected the traditional covenant of works; instead, through a single covenant of grace God entered into partnership with humankind to reconcile the race to himself

          God’s grace is sovereign and irresistible; those who experience it cannot be lost

          Barth laid the theoretical basis for universalism although he did not explicitly say this believing that committing to it would limit God’s freedom

          Rejected penal theory of atonement, said by his incarnation and death Jesus Christ united humanity with his divine nature

          Rejected natural theology—no grace outside of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ