Barth's Earlier Theology: Scripture, Confession and Church

(Paperback)

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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.

Reviews

'...Webster offers a fascinating analysis.' -- John Saxbee * Church Times *
'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'slife and work.' -- Ethan Worthington * Scottish Journal of Theology *
'[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 *

Author Bio

John Webster was 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.