The great passion : an introduction to Karl Barth's theology / Eberhard Busch ; translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley ; edited and annotated by Darrell L. Guder and Judith J. Guder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Busch, Eberhard, 1937-

Contributor:

Guder, Darrell L., 1939-

Guder, Judith J.

Standardized Title:

Grosse Leidenschaft. English

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Barth, Karl, 1886-1968.

Barth, Karl.

Physical Description:

x, 302 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Grand Rapids, Mich. : William B. Eerdmans Pub., [2004]

Summary:

Widely regarded as the twentieth century's greatest theologian, Karl Barth refocused the task of Christian theology and demonstrated its relevance to every domain of human life, from the spiritual to the social to the political. It is precisely the broad sweep of Barth's theology that makes a book like The Great Passion of such value - a succinct yet comprehensive introduction to Barth's entire theological program. Of the many people who write on the life and thought of Karl Barth, Eberhard Busch is uniquely placed. A world-renowned expert on Barth's theology, he also served as Barth's personal assistant from 1965 to 1968. As Busch explains, one cannot fully understand Barth the theologian apart from understanding Barth the man. In this book he weaves doctrine and biography into a superb presentation of Barth's complete work.

Busch's purpose in this introduction is to guide readers through the main themes of the multivolume Church Dogmatics against the horizon of our own times and problems. In ten sections Busch clearly explains Barth's views on all of the major subject areas of systematic theology: the nature of revelation, Israel and Christology, the Trinity and the doctrine of predestination, the "problem" of religion, gospel and law, creation, salvation, the Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, and eschatology. A distinctive feature of the book is the way Busch lets Barth speak for himself, often through surprising quotations and paraphrases. Busch also shows how Barth's writing should be read as a dialogue, constantly and consciously engaging other voices past and present, both inside and outside the church. Most important, The Great Passion demonstrates that Barth's thought is still remarkably helpful today.

Contents:

I: Pointers

toward an understanding of this theologian

His profile

Path

Primary work

II: Insights

the themes of his theology

The wonderful beginning

the doctrine of revelation and of the knowledge of God

The fulfilled covenant

Israel and Christology

The divine freedom

trinity and predestination

The disconcerting truth

the problem of religion

Exacting exhortation

gospel and law, ethics

The good creation

its basis and preservation

The critical reconciliation

the doctrines of sin and justification

The prevailing spirit

pneumatology

Moving out together

the doctrine of the church

Limited time

time and eternity, eschatology.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-295) and indexes.

ISBN:

0802848931

OCLC:

55015893