Keith L. Johnson - The Essential Karl Barth: A Reader and Commentary

2019 by Keith L. Johnson

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

Ebook edition created 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-1699-8

In the introductory material and commentary, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Cover i

Half Title Page ii

Title Page iii

Copyright Page iv

Dedication v

Preface ix

1. Introduction: The Life of Karl Barth 1

Part 1: Barths Theological Development 13

2. The Epistle to the Romans 23

3. The Word of God as the Task of Theology 32

4. An Answer to Professor Adolf von Harnack 44

5. The Resurrection of the Dead 57

6. The Gttingen Dogmatics 63

7. The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life 69

8. Preface to Church Dogmatics I/1 74

9. Farewell 81

10. The Humanity of God 93

Part 2: Barths Church Dogmatics 103

11. The Task of Dogmatics 109

12. The Word of God 115

13. Revelation and Faith 120

14. The Doctrine of the Trinity 126

15. The Missions of the Son and the Spirit 137

16. The Knowledge of God 149

17. The Reality of God 167

18. The Doctrine of Election 174

19. The Election of Jesus Christ 190

20. Gods Decision for the World 200

21. Covenant and Creation 205

22. The Covenant Partner of God 211

23. God and Nothingness 224

24. God with Us 233

25. The Obedience of the Son of God 247

26. The Exaltation of the Son of Man 265

27. The Glory of the Mediator 278

28. The Scope of Salvation 287

29. Christian Community 290

Part 3: Barths Political Engagement 301

30. A Brief Reminiscence of the 1920s 303

31. Sermon on Romans 15:513 308

32. The Barmen Theological Declaration 320

33. The Role of Christians in Wartime: A Letter to American Christians 325

34. The Community of Christians and the Community of Citizens 337

Conclusion: The Tradition of Karl Barth 347

Credits 366

Index 369

Back Cover 372

This book introduces readers to the theology of Karl Barth by presenting several of his most important writings in a single volume. The process of selecting these texts posed a challenge. Barth wrote millions of words in dozens of books, essays, sermons, and letters over many decades. This book contains approximately 100,000 of those words. Tough decisions had to be made, and I made them with two goals in mind. First, I wanted to assemble a collection that told the story of Barths theology from the beginning to the end of his academic career. Barth lived a dramatic life, and I chose texts that captured the drama. Second, I selected texts that will help readers grasp the essence of Barths theology. I wanted readers to know and understand what Barth thinks, but I also wanted them to be able to approach the rest of Barths writings with confidence. As I look over the collection at the end of the process, I believe that this volume accomplishes both of these goals. But I could have reworked this volume several times over with completely different sets of texts and still have accomplished these same goals. This means that there is both good news and bad news for readers. The bad news is that many incredible texts were left on the cutting-room floor. The good news is that this book will prepare readers to spend a lifetime exploring them.

This book is divided into three parts, along with an introduction and conclusion on Barths life and legacy. Part 1 provides an overview of Barths theological development through texts that show how Barth refined his ideas over the course of his career. Part 2 features passages from Barths Church Dogmatics, the work that occupied the majority of his life. Part 3 offers a sample sermon and other key texts that show how Barth responded to the threat posed by the Nazi government in Germany.

Each part opens with an essay that explains its purpose and structure. Each selection begins with an introduction that provides the context for that text and summarizes its argument. The selections also feature editorial footnotes designed to help the reader grasp Barths claims more clearly. I wrote these footnotes with a particular audience in mind. The world of Barth scholarship contains many resources that are rich in content but also highly technical. Far fewer resources exist to help students learn how to read Barth. With this context in mind, I tried to avoid technicalities and the debates that occupy the time and energy of Barth specialists. My commentary instead is directed toward helping new readers of Barth to understand his work. My goal was to make Barths thought accessible, to explain his ideas clearly, and to provoke further reading. I tried to offer the commentary I wish had been available to me when I first started reading Barth.

Memories of my initial encounter with Barths work were on my mind when I agreed to take on this project. I read Barths theology for the first time two decades ago as an undergraduate student. From the very first page, I felt like I had found a new friend. Barth put into words the theology I hoped was true. His work has often functioned in a pastoral way for me, both in my personal life and in my professional work. Academic theology is a difficult profession, and so is teaching. At key moments, reading Barth reminded me why I began studying theology in the first place. His work directs me to Jesus Christ and reminds me that Christ is for me and for the world. His confidence is reassuring when I lack my own. I am inspired by the way he grew and developed over the course of his career, especially after getting a late start. His love for his subject matter always cheers me up, and his joyous approach gives me hope as I face difficult questions.

My work on this project proved to me that, after over two decades of studying Barth, I am still only beginning to understand his theology. Some theologians are interesting for only a short time because there is little substance beneath the surface. Barth is different because he has become more interesting the longer I have studied him. Part of what makes Barth so fascinating is that he possessed a rare combination of intellect, eloquence, and courage. An initial reading of his theology reveals a passionate and engaging theologian confidently explaining his subject matter. A deep examination of these same passages shows a highly complex thinker who has constructed his theology with a level of originality, depth, and precision that has been matched only rarely in the history of theology.