Karl Barth: Spiritual Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)

by Ashley Cocksworth; W. Travis McMaken

Publisher:

Paulist Press

, 2022

Overview

For Karl Barth, all dogmatic work is spiritual. Thus, like Aquinas and other renowned theologians, Barth did not write an independent spiritual theology, but integrated spirituality into his dogmatic work. Nevertheless, specific texts within Barth’s corpus are dedicated to spiritual matters and they form the basis of the material in this volume. The selections draw widely from Barth’s commentary on Romans, Church Dogmatics, sermons, lectures, speeches, seminars, and his own prayer life. They illumine for researchers, students, and the general reader the distinctiveness of Barth’s theology of Christian spirituality and the important contribution he makes to the wider traditions of Christian spirituality.

To augment the primary sources, this volume also contains an introductory essay that comments on the selection of texts, sets Barth in his historical context, charts the development of his thought, and indicates the significance of spirituality to his theology (including drawing out the distinctively christological shape of his spiritual theology). Each of the subsequent four sections will contain briefer introductions and a contextualizing introduction for each source.

Key Features

• Contains an introductory essay that comments on the selection of texts.
• Sets Barth in his historical context.
• Indicates the significance of spirituality to his theology.

Contents

• About the Contributors
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Permissions
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• PART 1: DOGMATICS
• 1. “To Receive Thy Gift” (Prayer)
• 2. Spirituality and “Religion”
• 3. Prayer Seeking Understanding
• 4. Meditatio
• 5. Divine Teaching
• 6. The Glory and Beauty of God
• 7. Correspondence with God
• 8. Spiritual Not Religious
• 9. Pray and Work (Ora et Labora)
• 10. “He Himself ” (Sermon)
• PART 2: THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
• 1. “Thy People, Thy Congregation” (Prayer)
• 2. The Spirituality of Preaching
• 3. The Church as Holy and Catholic
• 4. The Christian Community at Prayer
• 5. The Monastic Life
• 6. Sainthood
• 7. The Spiritual Growth of the Community
• 8. The Ministry of the Community
• 9. Baptism
• 10. “You Shall Be My People” (Sermon)
• PART 3: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
• 1. “Awaken Us” (Prayer)
• 2. God’s Glory and Human Gratitude
• 3. The Gift of Prayer
• 4. Sabbath
• 5. True Prayer
• 6. Being Sanctified
• 7. Mozart
• 8. Invocation
• 9. Our Father
• 10. Wonder
• 11. “Make Me Pure of Heart” (Sermon)
• PART 4: POLITICS
• 1. “Give Us Thy Spirit” (Prayer)
• 2. Jesus Christ and the Movement for Social Justice
• 3. The Church Occupied
• 4. Political Parties and Christian Preaching
• 5. Spirituality against the Stream
• 6. Prophetic Action
• 7. Revolt
• 8. The Lordless Powers
• 9. The Church and Totalitarianism
• 10. “Saved by Grace” (Sermon)
• Index

Product Details

• Title: Karl Barth: Spiritual Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality)
• Authors: Ashley Cocksworth, W. Travis McMaken
• Series: Classics of Western Spirituality
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Print Publication Date: 2022
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Pages: 288
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Barth, Karl, 1886-1968; Spirituality—Reformed Church; Christian life—Reformed authors; Theology
• ISBNs: 9781587687891, 1587687895
• Resource ID: LLS:KRLBRTHSPWRTNGS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-08-20T18:03:55Z