An Explorer’s Guide to Karl Barth

by David Guretzki

Publisher:

IVP USA

, 2016

Overview

Anyone exploring a new territory knows the benefit of an experienced guide. A guide can make the difference between tiresome drudgery and a life-changing adventure. This is as true for exploring new thinkers and books as it is for places.

If ever a theologian required a guide, it would be Karl Barth. His many writings have secured his place as the most significant theologian of the twentieth century. The massive Church Dogmatics alone spans over eight thousand pages and six million words. David Guretzki has been reading and teaching Barth for decades, and he has gathered numerous hints and notes along the way for how best to explore the writings of the Swiss theologian.

Inside, you will find:

frequently asked questions

a glossary of key concepts and persons

a tour guide to Barth’s early writings

tips on how to write a paper on Barth

a guided tour to the Church Dogmatics

Whether you are a first-time reader or a seasoned student, An Explorer’s Guide to Karl Barth will give you the tools and tips to get the most out of your experience. Enjoy the journey!

Books in the Explorer’s Guide series are accessible guidebooks for those studying the great Christian texts and theologians from church history, helping readers explore the context in which these texts were written and navigate the rich yet complex terrain of Christian theology.

Key Features

• Exposes a glossary of key concepts and persons.
• Navigates the rich yet complex terrain of Christian theology.
• Provides an ideal place for readers to begin.

Praise for the Print Edition

The prospect of reading Karl Barth’s theology can be intimidating for new and experienced theologians alike. The historical distance between Barth’s time and our own, the complexity of his thought, the ongoing scholarly debates about his work, and the sheer number of pages Barth produced can make it difficult to know where and how to begin. That’s where this book comes in. David Guretzki has spent years helping students explore Barth’s theology, and he has distilled the wisdom he has gained during these years into these pages. The result is an accessible and generous guide to Barth’s theology that reduces the intimidation factor, answers common questions, and makes the task of reading Barth fun. I recommend this book for professors, students, pastors, and anyone else interested in reading Barth.

--Keith L. Johnson, Wheaton College

Beginning readers of Karl Barth will not find a better, more reliable, more accessible introduction to his theology than David Guretzki’s An Explorer’s Guide to Karl Barth. Guretzki knows Barth’s theology so well that he can explain it without using a lot of technical jargon. The idea of including a list of Barth-related FAQ is a stroke of genius. I will certainly assign this book to my own students.

--Joseph Mangina, professor of theology, Wycliffe College, Toronto

One of the biggest challenges to studying the work of Karl Barth with genuine comprehension is simply getting started and moving in the right direction. In this volume, David Guretzki provides an ideal place for readers to begin, based on years of introducing his students to Barth’s writings and theological ideas. A most welcome resource for those embarking on the journey of reading Barth as well as those seeking to teach them.

--John R. Franke, theologian in residence, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, author of Barth for Armchair Theologians

Product Details

• Title: An Explorer's Guide to Karl Barth
• Author: David Guretzki
• Publisher: IVP USA
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 225
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:EXPLORERGDKBARTH
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-13T22:15:57Z

About David Guretzki

David Guretzki (PhD, McGill University) is professor of theology, church, and public life at Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is also a coauthor of Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms.