Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth

by David Gibson, Ian A. McFarland, Ivor J. Davidson, Philip G. Ziegler, John Webster

Overview

What role does the interpretation of Scripture play in theological construction? In Reading the Decree David Gibson examines the exegesis of election in John Calvin and Karl Barth, and considers the relationship between election and Christology in their thought. He argues that for both Calvin and Barth their doctrine of election and its exegetical moorings are christologically shaped, but in significantly different ways.

Building on Richard A. Muller's conceptual distinction between Calvin's soteriological christocentrism and Barth's principial christocentrism, Gibson carefully explores their exegesis of the topics of Christ and election, and the election of Israel and the church. This distinction is then further developed by showing how it has a corresponding hermeneutical form: extensive christocentrism (Calvin) and intensive christocentrism (Barth). By focussing on the reception of biblical texts Reading the Decree draws attention to the neglected exegetical foundations of Calvin's doctrine of election, and makes a fresh contribution to current debates over election in Barth's thought.

The result is a study which will be of interest to biblical scholars, as well as historical and systematic theologians alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567468741
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/17/2009
Series:	T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology , #4
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David Gibson is Assistant Minister at High Church Hilton, Aberdeen. He studied theology at Nottingham University and King's College London, and completed a doctorate at the University of Aberdeen.

Ivor J. Davidson is Honorary Professor at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He was previously Professor of Theology at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Philip G. Ziegler is Chair in Christian Dogmatics at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

John Webster (1955-2016) was one of the world's leading systematic theologians. His distinguished career saw him publish over 20 books and 100 major articles, solidifying himself as an expert on systematic theology as well as the works of Karl Barth and Eberhard Jüngel. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2005 and, along with Colin Gunton, he co-founded the International Journal of Theology. Ultimately, he rose through the ranks of academia to become the Chair of Divinity at University of St Andrews, UK.

Table of Contents

Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations

Chapter 1: Calvin, Barth, and Christocentrism
Introduction
1. Christ and election
1.1 A theological distinction
2. Exegesis and election
2.2 A hermeneutical distinction
3. On comparing Calvin and Barth
4. Plan of the present study

Chapter 2: Christology and Election
Introduction
1. Jesus Christ as the Subject of Election
1.1. Christ as author
1.2. The trinitarian basis of election in Calvin
1.3. Christ as electing God
1.4. The trinitarian basis of election in Barth
2. Jesus Christ as the Object of Election
2.1. Christ as the Mediator of election itself
2.2. Christ as the Mediator of salvation flowing from election
2.3. Christ as elected man
Conclusion: Trinity and Election

Chapter 3: Community and Election
Introduction
1. Calvin on Israel and the church
2. Barth on the community
3. Romans 9:1-23
4. Romans 9:24-11:36
Conclusion: Covenant and Election

Chapter 4: Hermeneutics and Election
Introduction
1. The hermeneutics of election in Calvin
1.1. The location of Christology
1.2. The location of election
1.3. Christology and election
1.4. Christology and revelation
2. The hermeneutics of election in Barth
2.1. Election and Epistemology
2.2. Scripture as witness to revelation
2.3. Jesus Christ: Scripture's object and content
2.4. Mediatio: Scripture's parts and Scripture's whole

Conclusion: Revelation and Election

Conclusions

Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

'Dr Gibson's exploration of the complex of issues that arises in the theological intersection of Christology, election and Scripture in Calvin and Barth is deft and clear, and painstaking and fair. The way in which he approaches his task, by fashioning illuminating methodological tools to interrogate the two theologians, is very well done. The result is a fascinating and valuable study.' - Paul Helm, Regents College, Vancouver, Canada” —Paul Helm

“'Debates about the future of Reformed theology often tend to focus on the nature of the legacy of two men in particular: John Calvin and Karl Barth. Much ink has been spilled in examining the theological, social, intellectual, cultural, and even psychological backgrounds of these two men as a means of establishing their respective significance; but, in this work, David Gibson addresses these matters via a close study of their exegesis as a means of establishing just how faithful each was to their own stated scripture principle. Gibson's work represents a constructive and insightful development of contemporary discussion of the nature of Reformed theology.' - Carl R. Trueman, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, USA” —Carl R. Trueman

“There is much to commend about Gibson's study. He offers the reader a clear, careful and fair reading of Calvin and Barth... He is refreshingly appreciative of the ways in which the connections and motifs internal to Barth's own thought are deeply indebted to the Reform tradition, and particularly to Calvin... this study deserves a wide reading, and will be of particular interest to Calvin and Barth scholars.” —Jounral of Theological Studies

“This rewarding study is a model of theology which is systematic in the best sense: it perceptively illumines the coherence of doctrine, and it does so through analysis of two towering figures in the Reformed tradition. Its most valuable contribution, however, is the care with which it examines the exegetical decisions which attend these doctrinal formulations.” —Journal of Reformed Theology 4

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