Karl Barth: Theologian of Freedom

Karl Barth

The Making of Modern Theology Book 5 · Fortress Press

About this eBook

Ranked by many among the great theologians of church history, Karl Barth was the leading European theologian in the first half of this century. His 1919 Romans signaled the end of the nineteenth century liberal theology, and his Church Dogmatics reconstructed Christian doctrine in a way that was both classical and modern. A champion of the freedom of the Christian community, Barth's theology links "the Bible and the newspaper," Christian doctrine with the ethical issues of politics and economics, justice and peace. This volume concentrates on the key texts and ideas in Barth's thought. It presents the essential Barth for students and the general reader. Clifford Green's introductory essay and comments on the selected texts set Barth in his historical context, chart the development of his thought and indicate the significance of his theology in the development of Christian theology as a whole.

About the author

Karl Barth was described by Pope Pius XII as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas, the Swiss Pastor and Theologian, and Barth continues to be a major influence on students, scholars and preachers. Barth's theology found its expression mainly through his closely reasoned fourteen part magnum opus, Die Kirchliche Dogmatik. Having taken over 30 years to write, the Church Dogmatics is regarded as one of the most important theological works of all time, and represents the pinnacle of Barth's achievements as a theologian.