November Book Notes
Introductions to Karl Barth's Life and Theology
Hello, everyone! Welcome to another edition of Book Notes!
This month, we will explore three accessible introductions to Karl Barth’s theology. As we head into the holiday season, any or all of these texts would be a perfect gift to loved ones who may not be familiar with Karl Barth or his theology.
1. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth’s Theology by Eberhard Busch
Busch, Eberhard. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN 978-0802866543.
Eberhard Busch’s The Great Passion is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and accessible introductions to Karl Barth's theology. Busch, a former assistant to Barth, combines his deep personal connection with Barth with a scholarly commitment to presenting Barth’s ideas in an approachable way. This book is less an academic critique and more a tribute to Barth’s theological journey, aiming to convey the spirit and passion behind Barth's work.
The book is organized around Barth's central theological convictions, particularly his emphasis on the self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Busch does an excellent job of portraying Barth’s Christocentric focus, explaining how Barth came to view all theology as revolving around God’s decisive act of revelation in Christ. This perspective leads Barth to a profound re-evaluation of doctrines like election, sin, and salvation, which Busch unfolds in an orderly and accessible fashion. Barth's theology is a living response to God's action, not merely a set of intellectual positions.
Readers will appreciate Busch’s lucid treatment of Barth’s complex doctrines, such as his unique understanding of predestination and his rejection of natural theology (the attempt to understand God independently of Christ’s revelation). Busch demonstrates how Barth's rejection of natural theology shapes his theology, presenting it as an approach centered around God’s active, ongoing engagement with humanity. Rather than focusing on dogmatic terminology, Busch invites readers into Barth’s world by showcasing his vision of a theology that is dynamic, relational, and inherently resistant to human control.
The Great Passion is ideal for readers with a moderate to advanced interest in theology who want a nuanced yet accessible overview of Barth’s central themes. Its personal tone and theological clarity make it an engaging introduction for those who may not have deep academic training in theology but seek an authentic, comprehensive understanding of Barth's legacy.
2. Reading Karl Barth: Theology That Cuts Both Ways by Chris Boesel
Boesel, Chris. Reading Karl Barth: Theology That Cuts Both Ways. Wipf & Stock, 2023. ISBN 978-1498200341.
Chris Boesel’s Reading Karl Barth: Theology That Cuts Both Ways takes a nuanced and critical approach to Barth’s work, examining its theological power and its challenging implications. Boesel aims to engage with Barth’s theological contributions while questioning some of the more problematic aspects of Barth’s legacy. His book offers a unique perspective that is neither uncritically favorable nor dismissive but invites readers into a complex theological conversation. The element that proves to be most stimulating is the continued relevance of Barth’s theology, but the insistence that Barth must be augmented in light of liberationist voices.
Boesel offers an excellent example of this engagement in this book and in a recent series for God Here & Now.
Boesel’s central theme is that Barth’s theology “cuts both ways”—deeply inspiring in its vision of God’s sovereignty and grace, yet also demanding in its implications for issues like human freedom, gender, and religious diversity. Boesel particularly focuses on Barth’s radical emphasis on God’s freedom, a theme Barth develops to emphasize God's absolute otherness and sovereignty. While Boesel acknowledges Barth’s intent to make God the sole focus, he also points out that Barth’s strong emphasis on God’s freedom raises challenging questions about human autonomy and agency.
Boesel also examines Barth’s rejection of liberal theology, noting Barth’s resistance to any approach that would dilute God’s revelation in Christ with human-centered ideologies or ethics. While Boesel appreciates Barth’s insistence on theological purity, he suggests that this stance can sometimes create barriers to interfaith dialogue and limit the theological imagination. This tension, Boesel argues, is part of Barth’s legacy, offering both a clear sense of Christian identity and a potential stumbling block for engagement with the wider world.
In this book, Boesel effectively demonstrates how Barth’s theology invites readers into a dynamic, even unsettling, encounter with the living God. However, he does not shy away from critiquing Barth, where he sees limitations, making the book suitable for readers prepared to grapple with Barth’s groundbreaking contributions and his controversial positions. This approach makes Theology That Cuts Both Ways ideal for theologians, advanced students, and those interested in a critical yet appreciative engagement with Barth’s work.
3. Karl Barth: Theologian of Christian Witness by Joseph L. Mangina
Mangina, Joseph L. Karl Barth: Theologian of Christian Witness. Westminster John Knox Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0664228935.
Joseph Mangina’s Karl Barth: Theologian of Christian Witness approaches Barth’s work from a pastoral perspective, emphasizing Barth’s role as a theologian for the church and its mission. Mangina’s treatment of Barth is both accessible and practically focused, presenting Barth’s theology not as a theoretical system but as a resource for Christian discipleship and communal witness.
Mangina outlines key themes in Barth’s theology, such as his doctrines of election, Christology, and the Trinity, but he does so with a focus on how these doctrines inform the life and mission of the church. For example, Barth’s doctrine of election, which is famously centered on Jesus Christ as both the elect and the reprobate, is presented by Mangina as a doctrine of hope and assurance for the Christian community. Mangina shows how Barth’s focus on Christ’s identity as the elect one reconfigures traditional doctrines of election, making them not about individual predestination but about the communal call to witness to Christ’s reconciling love.
Mangina’s account of Barth’s Church Dogmatics also brings to light the relevance of Barth’s theology for contemporary church practices, such as preaching, sacraments, and communal life. He highlights Barth’s view of theology as an act of witness, with the church as a community called to embody the gospel. For Mangina, Barth’s theology is inseparable from the practical life of faith; it’s theology that moves from the mind to the heart and hands.
This book is especially suitable for church leaders, seminary students, and lay readers who want to understand Barth’s theology in a way that directly connects to their faith and ministry. Mangina’s focus on Christian witness makes Barth’s often dense theological ideas more accessible and relevant for readers who are interested in the practical implications of Barth’s thought for the life of the church.
Comparative Conclusion
Each of these books provides a distinct perspective on Karl Barth's theology, catering to different reader interests and academic levels:
Busch’s The Great Passion offers a warm, introductory overview enriched by Busch’s close relationship with Barth and his emphasis on his Christocentric theology. It’s well-suited for readers new to Barth or those who want a comprehensive and heartfelt guide to his main ideas without an overly critical stance.
Boesel’s Reading Karl Barth: Theology That Cuts Both Ways presents Barth’s theology as a double-edged sword, highlighting its transformative power and potential limitations. This book is ideal for advanced students or theologians interested in a balanced engagement that both honors and critiques Barth’s work, making it best suited for readers comfortable with complex, challenging theological discussions.
Mangina’s Karl Barth: Theologian of Christian Witness emphasizes Barth’s relevance for Christian practice and witness, connecting his doctrines to the life of the church. This work is perfect for pastors, church leaders, and lay readers interested in applying Barth’s theology within a practical, communal framework.
In sum, Busch’s introduction is accessible and inspiring, Boesel’s work offers a critical and sophisticated engagement, and Mangina’s book makes Barth’s theology accessible for everyday Christian life and mission. Together, they showcase the versatility of Barth’s thought and its diverse appeal to readers at all levels of theological interest.
