Letters of the Divine Word: The Perfections of God in Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics
Overview
The introduction locates Barth’s doctrine of the divine perfections within the unfolding logic of the Church Dogmatics and then surveys the state of Barth scholarship on this doctrine. Chapters one through four provide focused analysis of each of the four sections of Barth’s doctrine of the perfections, pausing at various points to address relevant debates within broader Barth scholarship. Chapter five draws together some of the key theological decisions which shape Barth’s account of the perfections and suggests further lines of inquiry.
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- Provide an analysis of the four sections of Barth’s doctrine of the perfections
- Addresses relevant debates within within broader Barth scholarship
- Presents key theological decisions that shape Barth’s account of the perfections
- The Being of God as the One Who Loves in Freedom
- The Perfections of God
- The Perfections of the Divine Loving
- The Perfections of the Divine Freedom
- Summary and Prospects
Top Highlights
“Barth cites Melanchthon’s errors because they raise the pivotal question of the relationship between God’s being and his beneficia. Is God the same in himself as he appears to be in his beneficent dealings with humanity? Barth’s entire exposition of the divine perfections will constitute his resounding but nuanced yes in answer to this question. As Barth sees matters, the ‘older theology’, in its concern to safeguard the divine transcendence, tends to separate God’s being from his dealings with humanity, as did Melanchthon. Modern theology, on the other hand, with its emphasis on divine immanence, tends to reduce God’s being to his dealings with humanity. Barth naturally wants to preserve what he considers the valid insights of each.” (Pages 13–14)
“Against the tendency of the older theology, Barth insists that God is in himself ‘the same’ as and ‘not another’ than he is in his dealings with humanity, that is, ‘in his works’. Against the tendency of modern theology, Barth insists that God is ‘not bound’ to his works but is who he is even ‘without them’. God works freely, but in a way that is true to himself and not arbitrary. The picture God presents of himself in his works is reliable. Barth’s concern for the simultaneous freedom and reliability of God in revelation thus leads him back to one of the basic claims of the previous chapter: ‘God is known through God and through God alone’” (Page 14)
“Had Barth identified grace as a consequence of election, he could have avoided drawing any reference to sin up into the divine life, while at the same time securing the inalienable graciousness of God’s being.” (Page 60)
Literate, articulate, a model of expositional clarity and care, this fine essay sets before us Barth’s doctrine of the divine perfections in all its complexity, resonance, and power. It is an important contribution to a growing literature on a central dogmatic theme and a welcomed reminder of the abiding importance of the practice of theological commentary on the formative texts of the tradition. In the contested world of contemporary Barth scholarship, we can never be recalled too often to close reading of the sources themselves. It is the great merit of this exemplary study of Church Dogmatics to do just that.
—Donald Wood, lecturer in systematic theology, University of Aberdeen
Price has given us a great gift: a careful and charitable guided tour through one of the most complex sections of Barth’s Church Dogmatics. His close exposition of Barth’s text unveils the inner logic of Barth’s argument by highlighting important connections and insights that often go unnoticed. Chapter by chapter, he opens up new vistas from which we can view the contours of Barth’s entire theology more clearly, and the result is a better grasp of Barth’s ongoing relevance for contemporary thought. This book stands in the best tradition of theological commentary, and it will be valuable to any theologian engaged in a serious study of Barth’s theology or the doctrine of God.
—Keith L. Johnson, assistant professor of theology, Wheaton College
- Title: Letters of the Divine Word: The Perfections of God in Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics
- Author: Robert B. Price
- Series: T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology
- Volume: 9
- Publisher: T&T Clark
- Print Publication Date: 2011
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 224
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Barth, Karl, 1886-1968 › Kirchliche Dogmatik; God (Christianity) › Attributes; God (Christianity) › History of doctrines--20th century
- ISBNs: 9780567468734, 9780567012715, 9780567075437, 0567468739, 0567012719, 0567075435
- Resource ID: LLS:LTTRSDVNWRDPRFC
- Resource Type: text.monograph.letters
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:23:35Z