How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology [Paperback]

George Hunsinger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195083695 | ISBN-13: 978-0195083699 | Publication Date: April 29, 1993

This critical study decodes the most cryptic and elusive patterns of Karl Barth's dialectic. Hunsinger not only offers a new and authoritative interpretation of Barth's mature theology, but also places Barth's work in relation to contemporary discussions of truth, justified belief, double agency, and religious pluralism. Through a fresh and compelling reading of Church Dogmatics, Hunsinger offers a new account of the coherence of that work as a whole.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Hunsinger's well-organized and thoughtful introduction to the work of Karl Barth aims at helping the novice read Barth's frustrating but seminal Church Dogmatics. Attempting to develop a mastery of the patterns in Barth's work, he discusses key motifs of actualism, objectivism, particularism, and personalism. He also discusses the themes of rationalism and realism in Barth, which are related to his concept of truth as well as his view of justified belief, double agency, and religious pluralism. These discussions are not easy reading, and they should be read in conjunction with Barth's text. All academic and seminary libraries should consider purchasing this monograph, which would also interest the more scholarly members of the Protestant clergy.
- Susan A. Stussy, Barton Cty. Community Coll., Great Bend, Kan.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"With this book George Hunsinger establishes himself not only as a leading Barth interpreter, but as one of the keenest minds of his generation working in doctrinal theology....[He] has moved Barth interpretation a major step forward. Lucid, tightly reasoned, elegantly structured and fluently written, this book rewards repeated reading. Not for connoisseurs of Barth only, the theological issues it addresses are so fundamental to any theology that students needing an introduction or pastors wanting a refresher course need look no further."--The Princeton Seminary Bulletin

"A quite splendid and original book to be read and re-read by those who want to understand Barth."--Expository Times

"Brings a rare thoroughness and carefulness to the daunting work of Barth interpretation....He admirably and aptly accounts for the complexity and richness of Barth. I anticipate How to Read Karl Barth will become a standard text that one will ignore at the peril of faulty Nachdenken and shallow criticism."--Journal of Religion

"In 30 years of studying the theology of Karl Barth, I have never come across so illuminating a treatment of Barth's thought. This book is absolutely indispensable for anyone attempting to understand Barth's way of doing theology, and it will be of immense help to those seeking to take full advantage of the contribution Barth has yet to make to Christian theology in our day."--Theological Studies

"Useful and important....Even those who dissent from Barth (or Hunsinger's reading of Barth) will find this book indispensable."--Cross Currents

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 29, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195083695
• ISBN-13: 978-0195083699
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an essential guide to reading the church dogmatics, August 23, 2000

By 

forehandshanker (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology (Paperback)

I got this book after I had been reading Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics for a year. Barth's writing is truly dense, and has led to many misunderstandings of him. This book has helped me to notice patterns that I had missed before. I read this book in parallel with Barth's treatment of divine election, and this book saved me from misinterpreting Barth as a universalist. In terms of practical use, I can't think of a better book.

Having taken a class from him, he is a truly brilliant teacher, and he has helped me to pay close attention to the text. One of the poverties in American theology is that the art of commentary has been lost. The medieval universities trained the Scholastic theologians by making them do close readings (lectio) of important texts (e.g. the Bible, Lombard's Sentences, etc.). Whether you agree with the Scholastics or not is one thing, but you cannot deny that the disciplined approach to theology led to some monumental achievements. Hunsinger's book is a tool to help you do that with Barth.

This book has two parts. The first part suggests six patterns that run throughout the Church Dogmatics (particularism, actualism, realism, personalism, rationalism and another one which I can't recall just now). The second part is a set of etudes on Barth's theology utilizing the 6 patterns. Hunsinger addresses the issue of double agency in Barth's soteriology, secular parables of the kingdom of God, his view of revelation, etc.

On a different subject, the other best secondary sources on Barth are Bruce McCormack's intellectual history of the pre-dogmatics Barth, John Webster's _Ethics of Reconciliation_ and Hans Urs Von Balthasar's classic study.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Perceptive Accounts of Barth's Theology, July 29, 2003

By 

John D. White "camsterdad" (Cayce, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology (Paperback)

Hunsinger is a matchless reader of Karl Barth and we are in his debt for this book. Barth, as has been noted time and again, is no easy read. Though his German edition of the CD received awards for the style in which he wrote, the English edition is difficult even for the most dedicated. The 50 pages we were required to read weekly in seminary during classes on Barth's CD sometimes seemed a tremendous amount. Yet, one was always rewarded for the patience required in reading such an amount on a regular basis--one volume completed by the end of the semester. When it is all said and done--Barth's work is simply overwhelming and awe-inspiring. Hunsinger helps us all by pointing out important themes in Barth's work. To have these various themes pointed out, helps immeasureably. One cannot read Hunsinger's book without gaining a deeper appreciation for Barth's complexity or his achievement, or Hunsinger's abilities as a theologian and teacher/ writer. Along with Bruce McCormack's book on Barth this is an absolutely necessary volume for anyone interested in Barth's theology.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable tool for reading Barth!, February 2, 2006

By 

Teologia "Aspiring Systematic Theologian" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology (Paperback)

This book stands on its own in the field of "Introducing Karl Barth." Hunsinger's book is exactly what it says it is: a book on HOW TO READ Karl Barth. Hunsinger believes that pattern-recognition can not only to help the inexperienced and overwhelmed readers of Barth, but can also aid the academy of our time to read him more holistically. This book becomes more difficult the farther one goes into it. I would suggest that one not try to read it on its own apart from Barth's works. As a philosophy major and follower of Christ, what I find attractive about Barth and Hunsinger is their strong capability in logic and analysis, which is governed by the theological task itself (and not the other way around!). The other reviews describe the content of the book sufficiently, so let me end by claiming that this book shows just why Hunsinger is considered by John Webster (at Aberdeen) to be "a matchless reader of Barth." In fact, I would venture to claim that Hunsinger is probably the most capable reader in theology today! His model of pattern-recognition provides a helpful model in reading other theologians, especially those who did not write in linear fashion. I would highly suggest taking a class with Professor Hunsinger at Princeton Theological Seminary if you ever have the chance.