TH013-712 - Karl Barth in Context

  • 2,784 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • Category developing unit
    B
  • theologyUnit Discipline

Corequisites

96cps of study, including 36 cps at AQF level 6

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code TH703-4.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. Demonstrate Functional knowledge and understanding of the theology of Karl Barth in its historical, social, political and theological contexts

B. Be able to

1. Critically Analyse the major concerns and characteristics of the theology of Karl Barth in its historical, social, political and theological contexts

2. Discuss the validity and utility of the theology of Karl Barth in its historical, social, political and theological contexts

3. Present Critical evidence-based perspectives on the theology of Karl Barth in its historical, social, political and theological contexts
 

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying perspectives from ‘Karl Barth in Context’ to contemporary Christian life and ministry practice as a reflective practitioner

Content

Given the massive size of Barth’s theological output, choices must be made concerning what to include in the unit, and what to leave out. The following outline of content is intended as indicative of the kinds of materials that could reasonably be included in a Unit of Study on Karl Barth’s theology.

  1. A brief overview of Barth’s life, theological development, and legacy, including discussion of the historical, social, political, and theological contexts in which he worked.
  2. A brief sampling of interpretive approaches to Barth’s work.
  3. A guide for reading Karl Barth, especially the Church Dogmatics.
  4. Barth’s theological method, including discussion of analogy and dialectic, his relation to and use of philosophy, his retrieval and use of theological tradition, especially formal creedal and confessional statements, Barth as ‘orthodox and modern,’ his doctrines of revelation and Scripture.
  5. A study of various theological loci as presented by Karl Barth, such as his doctrines of the trinity, God, Christology, pneumatology, humanity, election, reconciliation, ecclesiology, ethics, etc.
  6. Detailed study of various works from different periods from Barth’s career such as his early lectures, Romans commentaries, pamphlets and other occasional documents from the German Church conflict period, sections of the Church Dogmatics, etc.

It is envisaged that the unit will focus especially on point 6 above, so that students actually read, interpret and discuss substantial sections of Barth’s work. Teachers may choose a survey approach to Barth’s oeuvre, dealing with a different topic each week, or may choose to spend most of the unit exploring two or three specific topics in greater depth. If the second option is chosen, teachers are also encouraged to engage Barth’s work at different periods of his career.

Set Readings

Prescribed:

Allen, R. Michael (ed). Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics: An Introduction & Reader. (London: T. & T. Clark, 2012).

Barth, Karl, Church Dogmatics 14 vols. (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1936-1975). Note: the newer 31-volume Study Edition of Barth’s Church Dogmatics may also be used.

The use of a selection of primary texts from other Barth works is also recommended. E.g. Barth’s Epistle to the Romans, Theology and the Word of God, Dogmatics in Outline, Ethics, Evangelical Theology: An Introduction, etc.

 

Recommended:

Balthasar, Hans Urs von. The Theology of Karl Barth. Translated by Edward T. Oakes (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1992).

Berkouwer, G. C. The Triumph of Grace in the Theology of Karl Barth. Translated by H. R. Boer (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956).

Bromiley, Geoffrey W. Introduction to the Theology of Karl Barth (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1979).

Burnett, R. (ed). The Westminster Handbook to Karl Barth (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2013).

Busch, Eberhard. Karl Barth: His Life from Letters and Autobiographical Texts. Translated by J. Bowden (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976).

Busch, Eberhard. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth’s Theology. Trans. G. W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004).

Gibson, David & Daniel Strange, eds. Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques (Nottingham: IVP, 2008).

Gorringe, Timothy J. Karl Barth: Against Hegemony (Oxford: OUP, 1999).

Hunsinger, George. How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of his Theology (Oxford: OUP, 1991).

Hunsinger, George. Disruptive Grace: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000).

Jüngel, Eberhard. Karl Barth: A Theological Legacy. Translated by G. E. Paul (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986).

McCormack, Bruce L. Karl Barth’s Critically Realistic Dialectical Theology: Its Genesis and Development 1909-1936 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995).

McCormack, Bruce L. Orthodox and Modern: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008).

O’Neil, Michael D., Church as Moral Community: Karl Barth’s Vision of Christian Life, 1915-1922 (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2013).

Webster, John, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).

Webster, John. Karl Barth (New York: Continuum, 2000).

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