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 20^th 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