Karl Barth’s Infralapsarian Theology: Origins and Development, 1920-1953 (New Explorations in Theology | NET)

by George Hunsinger; Shao Kai Tseng

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2016

Overview

Challenging decades of scholarship, Shao Kai Tseng argues that despite Barth’s stated favor of supralapsarianism, his mature lapsarian theology is complex and dialectical, critically reappropriating both supra- and infralapsarian patterns of thinking. Barth can be described as basically infralapsarian because he sees the object of election as fallen humankind and understands the incarnation as God’s act of taking on human nature in its condition of fallenness.

In this New Explorations in Theology volume, Tseng shows that most of Barth’s Reformed critics have not understood his doctrine of election accurately enough to recognize his affinity to infralapsarianism and, conversely, that most Barthians have not understood Reformed-orthodox formulations of election with sufficient accuracy in their disagreement with the tradition. Karl Barth’s Infralapsarian Theology offers a clear understanding of both the historic Lapsarian Controversy and Barth's distinct form of lapsarianism, providing a charitable dialogue partner to aid mutual understanding between Barth and evangelicals.

Featuring new monographs with cutting-edge research, New Explorations in Theology provides a platform for constructive, creative work in the areas of systematic, historical, philosophical, biblical, and practical theology.

Key Features

• Shows that Barth professed a transformed vision of Christology.
• Offers a fresh and provocative argument that Karl Barth was not a supra- but infralapsarian.
• Explains that God’s love of the world in election and incarnation is effective for all.

Contents

• Introduction

Part I: Reappraising Barth's Lapsarian Position

• 1. Supra- and Infralapsarianism in the Seventeenth Century: Some Definitions
• 2. Church Dogmatics §33: Barth?s Lapsarian Position Reassessed

Part II: Barth's Lapsarian Position In Development, 1920-1953

• 3.Römerbrief II (1920-1921): Lapsarianism in the "Impossible Possibility" Dialectic
• 4. The Göttingen-Münster Period (1921-1930): Christology and Predestination in the Subject-Object Dialectic
• 5. The Bonn Years (1930-1935): Human Talk and Divine Word—New Developments?
• 6. Gottes Gnadenwahl (1936): Infralapsarian Aspects of Barth's Christocentric Doctrine of Election
• 7. CD II/2 (1939-1942): Christ as Electing God and Elected Human—Lapsarianism "Purified"
• 8. CD IV/1 (1951-1953): Adamic History and History of Christ—Infralapsarian Tendencies in Barth's Doctrine of Sin
• Conclusion

Praise for the Print Edition

Through a detailed study of the development of Karl Barth’s theology against the background of the Lapsarian Controversy of the seventeenth century, Tseng shows that Barth’s professed ‘purified supralapsarianism’ is in fact a transformed vision of Christology and predestination in which both infralapsarian and supralapsarian elements play an important role. Tseng’s headline claim that Barth’s mature view is best described (contra Barth himself) as 'basically infralapsarian’ is and will no doubt remain controversial. Yet at the same time, his fine-grained presentation of Barth’s Christological doctrine of election as a dialectical admixture of supra- and infralapsarian patterns of thinking builds a persuasive case and, moreover, models a hearty mode of theological inquiry that is refreshing in an era grown chary of dogmatic reflection.

--Joel D. S. Rasmussen, associate professor of nineteenth-century Christian thought, University of Oxford

Swimming against the currents of common opinion, Shao Kai Tseng offers a fresh and provocative argument that Karl Barth was not a supra- but infralapsarian. Such a claim will undoubtedly raise eyebrows, but Tseng presents a convincing case rooted in a careful analysis of the original seventeenth-century debate and Barth’s own extensive writings. Without hesitation I can say that this is a must-read book for anyone who wants a better understanding of Barth’s theology. But this book is also important for anyone who wrestles with how to explain God’s relationship with fallen humanity, the doctrine of Christ, time and eternity, and election and salvation.

--J. V. Fesko, Westminster Seminary California

Shao Kai Tseng’s text is a most impressive piece of scholarship. His topic of predestination, with a focus on Barth, chimes in with the important debate in Barth scholarship on election in relation to Trinity. This book will take its place as further evaluation and revision of the interpretation of predestination in Barth’s theology. I commend the work by this emerging Asian theologian wholeheartedly.

--Timothy Bradshaw, University of Oxford

Product Details

• Title: Karl Barth's Infralapsarian Theology: Origins and Development, 1920-1953
• Authors: George Hunsinger, Shao Kai Tseng
• Series: New Explorations in Theology
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Pages: 319
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Barth, Karl, 1886-1968; Election (Theology); Predestination; Puritans Doctrines; Religion › Christian Theology--Soteriology
• ISBNs: 9780830899821, 0830899820
• Resource ID: LLS:9780830899821
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T21:33:24Z