Barth's Summary of Barth

[DD2008]

During his only visit to America the prolific 20th century theologian Karl Barth was asked to summarize briefly all of the millions of words he had written. He replied, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

In the end the simplicity of it all gives me a good deep belly chuckle.

....discuss

go

 

[Sphinx777]

Karl Barth (May 10, 1886 – December 10, 1968) (pronounced "bart") a Swiss Reformed theologian, was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas. Beginning with his experience as a pastor, he rejected his training in the predominant liberal theology typical of 19th-century Protestantism, especially German. Instead he embarked on a new theological path initially called dialectical theology (due to its stress on the paradoxical nature of divine truth - for instance, God is both grace and judgment), but more accurately called a theology of the Word. Critics have referred to Barth as the father of neo-orthodoxy - a pejorative term emphatically rejected by Barth himself. Barth's theological thought emphasized the sovereignty of God, particularly through his innovative doctrine of election. His theology has been enormously influential throughout Europe and America.

 

[DD2008]

Karl Barth (May 10, 1886 – December 10, 1968) (pronounced "bart") a Swiss Reformed theologian, was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas. Beginning with his experience as a pastor, he rejected his training in the predominant liberal theology typical of 19th-century Protestantism, especially German. Instead he embarked on a new theological path initially called dialectical theology (due to its stress on the paradoxical nature of divine truth - for instance, God is both grace and judgment), but more accurately called a theology of the Word. Critics have referred to Barth as the father of neo-orthodoxy - a pejorative term emphatically rejected by Barth himself. Barth's theological thought emphasized the sovereignty of God, particularly through his innovative doctrine of election. His theology has been enormously influential throughout Europe and America.

That is true! Once again, you come through with the facts Sphinx!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

During his only visit to America the prolific 20th century theologian Karl Barth was asked to summarize briefly all of the millions of words he had written. He replied, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

In the end the simplicity of it all gives me a good deep belly chuckle.

....discuss

go

Must have been a Solo Scriptura Protestant

 

[DD2008]

Must have been a Solo Scriptura Protestant

He was a Reformed Protestant theologian. However within his work are many great starting places for ecumenism and honesty within the Church.

For instance he was well respected by both Protestants and Catholics alike. In regards to Mariology in my opinion the biggest divider of Catholic and Protestant beliefs, he believed she should be called the Mother of God because he thought this was a great way to uphold the doctrine of the Trinity. However, he disagreed with the veneration of her and considered it a terrible mistake and a heresy. See the quote below: from a wiki link

"Barth on the other hand sees the term "Mother of God," as "being overloaded by the so-called Mariology of the Roman Catholic Church". [6] He considered the Roman Catholic veneration of Mary a terrible mistake and heresy.

• Where ever Mary is venerated, and devotion to her takes place, there the Church of Christ does not exist. [7]
• Catholic mariology is a cancer, a sick theological development, and cancers should be cut out. [8]
• The heresy of the Catholic Church is its mariology and Marian cult [9]

He warns however, of extending this critique too far: “It is not recommended that we should base our repudiation [of Marian doctrine] on the assertion that there has taken place here an irruption from the heathen sphere, an adoption of the idea, current in many non-Christian religions, of a more or less central and original female or mother deity. In dogmatics you can establish everything and nothing from parallels from the history of religions [10]
And, Barth equally attacks Protestant theology on this issue: "For justice sake, one has to say, that the Protestant rejection of Roman Catholic mariology and Marian cult is dishonest, as long as Protestantism is caught in the same unreal problem". [11] These quotes should not suggest a negative attitude of Barth towards the Roman Catholic Church or Roman Catholic Theology. He was a close friend of Hans Urs von Balthasar who published about him. Barth’s dogmatic theology was partly based on Thomas Aquinas, and Barth fans quote Pope Pius XII as describing Barth as one of the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas.[12] Upon hearing that Pius XII had paid tribute to his work, Barth smiled and said, "This proves the infallibility of the Pope."

 

[DD2008]

Any Karl Barth fans?

http://solomon.dkbl.alexanderstreet.com/

 

[Emmy]

Dear DD2008. I like to thank you for the message of Barth`s Summary of Barth. " Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," and in the end the simplicity of it all gives me new strenght to carry on witnessing the miraculous fact. Man were lost, but Jesus found us. He paid the price which God`s Holy Law demanded, He alone was without sin or blemish, and God accepted His Sacrifice. Jesus reconciled us to God, and is waiting for us to Repent, to exchange our selfish and unloving character into: 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and wih all our minds, and 2) love each other, love our neighbour, love all others, as we love ourselves. This is not easy, but we have years to learn, and we have Jesus to help and guide us All the way, in fact Jesus is the WAY. God is LOVE, He is perfect, and Jesus told us to become perfect as God is perfect. May I point out also, humbly and with love, DD2008, God is LOVE, and God`s Holy Law passes Judgment on us, ie Rewards for obedience to God`s loving advice to us, and right consequences for ignoring, or disobeying God`s Commandments. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[DD2008]

Dear DD2008. I like to thank you for the message of Barth`s Summary of Barth. " Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," and in the end the simplicity of it all gives me new strenght to carry on witnessing the miraculous fact. Man were lost, but Jesus found us. He paid the price which God`s Holy Law demanded, He alone was without sin or blemish, and God accepted His Sacrifice. Jesus reconciled us to God, and is waiting for us to Repent, to exchange our selfish and unloving character into: 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and wih all our minds, and 2) love each other, love our neighbour, love all others, as we love ourselves. This is not easy, but we have years to learn, and we have Jesus to help and guide us All the way, in fact Jesus is the WAY. God is LOVE, He is perfect, and Jesus told us to become perfect as God is perfect. May I point out also, humbly and with love, DD2008, God is LOVE, and God`s Holy Law passes Judgment on us, ie Rewards for obedience to God`s loving advice to us, and right consequences for ignoring, or disobeying God`s Commandments. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Emmy,

Nicely said.

David

 

[Dcharles1973]

I'm studying Barth right now and man, am I impressed! I like how he said that "the Word of God is not in scripture, but was made flesh in Jesus Christ. I will admit to having a postliberal theology, though I'm not a big fan of narrative methodology. To him, Jesus was the Word, and any suggestion that we could ever fully understand the "truth" of God is an attempt to control God, which we can never do. I'm a new fan!

 

[wiselife]

I think we spend too much time discussing the tiny bits. Anything from creation onwards is Grace.