Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology: Convergences and Divergences

by Sung Wook Chung

Publisher:

Paternoster

, 2006

Overview

Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology explores the convergences and divergences between the theology of Karl Barth and historic evangelical faith, and on that basis presents ways for evangelicals to dynamically engage with Barth's theology. It is a balanced appraisal of Barth's theology from a solidly evangelical perspective and features contributions by many leading theologians, including Alister McGrath, Kevin Vanhoozer, Gabriel Fackre, and Henri Blocher.

Karl Barth is undoubtedly one of the most influential Christian theologians of the twentieth century. However, the reception of many evangelicals to Barth's theology has been complicated. Some evangelical theologians rejected his theology, arguing that his view of Scripture is inconsistent with historic evangelical views. Others accepted wholeheartedly Barth's emphasis on the Word of God and Christ-centered interpretation of the Gospel.

Contents

Top Highlights

“For evangelicals, the Word of God is an object—the deposit of revealed truth in Scripture. By contrast, for Barth the Word of God is a subject whose speaking in and through Jesus Christ creates both the canon and the church.” (Page 39)

“The difficulty lies in Barth’s espousing two incompatible axioms: first, that the Bible is the Word of God; second, that the Bible contains errors and contradictions.” (Page 31)

“The Word of God is God himself in Holy Scripture.’⁶⁵ Barth never tired of insisting that only God can make God known.” (Page 39)

“Jesus Christ is not only the Object of election but also the Subject of election” (Page 74)

“Where I have personally benefited from Barth’s theology is in his emphasis on the gospel before the law, divine revelation over human reason, dogmatics before apologetics and theology over ideology. My reservations lie in his objectivistic and universalistic slant, which he nevertheless strives to hold in balance with his concern for vocation as the third element in salvation—after justification and sanctification.” (Pages xvi–xvii)

Praise for the Print Edition

This collection ought to do much to stimulate fresh evangelical engagement with one of the great gospel thinkers of the modern Christian tradition.

—Professor John Webster, University of Aberdeen

Product Details

• Title: Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology: Convergences and Divergences
• Author: Sung Wook Chung
• Publisher: Paternoster
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 352

About Sung Wook Chung

Dr. Sung Wook Chung joined the faculty in 2005 as associate professor of theology. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, Evangelical Theological Society, Calvin Studies Society, and the Karl Barth Society of North America. He is a native Korean and also currently serves as the Director of Korean Initiatives. Dr. Chung earned a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford and an M.Div. from Harvard University. He also earned a B.A. from Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea, and Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Chung served in the Bible and religion department at King College from 2000-2005. While he was working as a professor of theology there, he also served the Tri-City Korean Church as pastor. He has published numerous articles and books, both in English and Korean. He has authored Admiration and Challenge: Karl Barth’s Theological Relationship with John Calvin, and edited Alister McGrath and Evangelical Theology: A Dynamic Engagement, Christ the One and Only: A Global Affirmation of the Uniqueness of Jesus Christ, and Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology, John Calvin and Evagelical Theology: Legacy and Prospect, and with Dr. Craig Blomberg, A Case for Historic Premillennialism. Among his Korean books are The Trinitarian Theology and Spirituality, The Key Words of the Reformation, Christian Apologetics Made Easy, Christian Systematic Theology Made Easy, and The Theology and Spirituality of the Cross. Dr. Chung is also an official translator of Jonathan Edwards and has recently translated Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections and Concert of Prayer into Korean. He is a frequent conference and seminar speaker.