Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques

by David Gibson, Daniel Strange

Overview

More than perhaps any other theologian in the twentieth century, Karl Barth has dominated the subject-matter of theology and posed the questions with which the theologians of the different churches have been, and are, occupied, although they may want to "go beyond" him, go back behind him, or even protest against his answers.' (Eberhard Busch).

Karl Barth's theological legacy provides both opportunity and challenge for historic, confessional evangelicalism. While there are now numerous excellent studies highlighting the value of Barth's theology, often receiving it with ringing endorsement, there are fewer more cautionary or critical responses.

This volume engages critically and courteously with Barth on a range of vital topics where, for the contributors, his interpretation of Scripture, reading of church history, and confession of Christian doctrine are unsatisfactory. This engagement is offered as a positive contribution to the wider programme of constructive theological reflection that seeks to articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ in and for the contemporary world, in the conviction that the 'pattern of sound teaching' (2 Timothy 1:13) really matters.

The contributors are Henri Blocher, Oliver Crisp, David Gibson, Ryan Glomsrud, Paul Helm, Michael Horton, Donald Macleod, A. T. B. McGowan, Michael Ovey, Sebastian Rehnman, Mark Thompson and Garry Williams.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781844742455
Publisher:	IVP
Publication date:	01/18/2008
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Gibson (Ph.D, University of Aberdeen) is the Minister of Trinity Church in Aberdeen, Scotland. He has published a number of articles and books such as "Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End", "Radically Whole: Gospel Healing for the Divided Heart", and he is co-editor of "From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Biblical, Historical, Theological and Pastoral Perspective".

Daniel Strange was born in 1974 to British and Guyanese parents. After studying theology and religious studies at Bristol University, he completed his doctoral work on the theology of religions under Prof. Gavin D'Costa. From 2000-2005 he was Co-ordinator for the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship, part of UCCF. He joined the faculty of Oak Hill Theological College, London as Tutor in Culture, Religion and Public Theology in 2005 and later became Director.

Table of Contents

Introduction
David Gibson and Daniel Strange
Karl Barth's Christocentric method
Henri Blocher
Does it matter if Christian doctrine is contradictory? Barth on logic and theology
Sebastian Rehnman
Karl Barth as historical theologian: the recovery of Reformed theology in Barth's early dogmatics
Ryan Glomsrud
Karl Barth and covenant theology
A. T. B. McGowan
The day of God's mercy: Romans in Barth's doctrine of election
David Gibson
Witness to the Word: on Barth's doctrine of Scripture
Mark D. Thompson
A private love? Karl Barth and the triune God
Michael J. Ovey
Karl Barth and the doctrine of the atonement
Garry J. Williams
Karl Barth and the visibility of God
Paul Helm
Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards on reprobation (and hell)
Oliver D. Crisp
'Church' dogmatics: Karl Barth as ecclesial theologian
Donald Macleod
A stony jar: the legacy of Karl Barth for evangelical theology
Michael S. Horton
Select bibliography of Karl Barth's works
Index of names
Index of subjects
Index of biblical references