Barth's Earlier Theology: Scripture, Confession and Church [Hardcover]

John Webster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0567083527 | ISBN-13: 978-0567083524 | Publication Date: October 31, 2005

In this new book, Webster continues the work that he initiated in Barth's Moral Theology. He addresses the important topics of biblical exegesis and historical theology in Barth's early writing, and develops his own line of interpretation of Barth's theology in general. Webster suggests that the traditional accounts of Barth's development are inadequate: they tend to emphasize his cultural and philosophical context, to focus on the same limited selection of his writings and to misjudge his theological intentions, regarding him as a purely transcendental thinker or as a postmodernist. In this book Webster provides detailed interpretations of early texts that have received little attention, such as Barth's work on 1 Corinthians, on the Reformed Confessions, and on modern Protestant theology. Webster draws out the significance of Barth's early biblical exegesis and historical theology, and shows how his work in both fields was conceived from the beginning as important preparation for his future dogmatic work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...Webster offers a fascinating analysis.'

(John Saxbee Church Times )

'[A] thorough, elegant analysis and reappraisal of his subject....the book is to be commended, for, in his own words, 'if we do not acquire the skills to listen to what the communion of saints says to us, what we have to say in our turn will be thin and unedifying, solemn at all the wrong places and lacking in joyful seriousness about the gospel' (65).'

Michael Reeves, Themelios, 32/1

(Michael Reeves Themelios )

'The overall aim...is admirably achieved.'

(Mark D Chapman, Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford Theology )

'Veterans of Barth scholarship and newcomers alike will certainly find this text engaging and insightful. There is no doubt that Webster has added another brilliant brush stroke to the varying portrait of Karl Barth's life and work.'

(Ethan Worthington Scottish Journal Of Theology )

'Dr Carmichael has produced a most valuable and scholarly book. ... Not only is hers the first book to pull together a wealth of material from the past, ... she has spotted that the discussion of friendship is a genuinely new phenomenon in twentieth-century theology.'

(Ann Loades Scottish Journal Of Theology )

'...Webster offers a fascinating analysis.'

(, Church Times )

'[A] thorough, elegant analysis and reappraisal of his subject....the book is to be commended, for, in his own words, 'if we do not acquire the skills to listen to what the communion of saints says to us, what we have to say in our turn will be thin and unedifying, solemn at all the wrong places and lacking in joyful seriousness about the gospel' (65).'

Michael Reeves, Themelios, 32/1

(, Themelios )

'The overall aim...is admirably achieved.'

(, Theology )

'Veterans of Barth scholarship and newcomers alike will certainly find this text engaging and insightful. There is no doubt that Webster has added another brilliant brush stroke to the varying portrait of Karl Barth's life and work.'

(, Scottish Journal Of Theology )

'Dr Carmichael has produced a most valuable and scholarly book. ... Not only is hers the first book to pull together a wealth of material from the past, ... she has spotted that the discussion of friendship is a genuinely new phenomenon in twentieth-century theology.'

(, Scottish Journal Of Theology )

About the Author

John Webster is Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen. His published work includes a number of books on the theology of Karl Barth, on the nature and interpretation of Scripture, and on Christian dogmatics, including Confessing God. He edited The Oxford Handbook to Systematic Theology, and is an editor of The International Journal of Systematic Theology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: T&T Clark Int'l (October 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0567083527
• ISBN-13: 978-0567083524
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,350,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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