John Webster’s essay, “Reading the Bible: The Example of Barth and Bonhoeffer” (pages 87–110 in Word and Church: Essays in Christian Dogmatics [Edinburgh; New York: T&T Clark, 2001]) is, in large part, the inspiration for my doctoral dissertation. I’d like to share the three reflections/lessons Webster draws from the biblical work of Barth and Bonhoeffer.…… Continue reading Theology is exegesis: John Webster on what we can learn from Barth and Bonhoeffer
Tag: research
Karl Barth’s Gesamtausgabe (“Complete/Collected Edition”): A List of Works
Note that, as of 2019-01-26, 54 volumes of the Gesamtausgabe have been published. Unfortunately, only the first 45 of these are available in the Digital Karl Barth Library. *I’ve marked volumes unavailable in the DKBL with an asterisk. According to the publisher, TVZ: Seit 1971 sind im Theologischen Verlag Zürich mehr als 50 Bände der…… Continue reading Karl Barth’s Gesamtausgabe (“Complete/Collected Edition”): A List of Works
A List of Karl Barth’s Sermons
To make this list, I’ve used the data available in the Digital Karl Barth Library. I’ve just taken the tables of contents in the sermon volumes of Barth’s collected works and put them all in one place. The only way to display the dates correctly in Markdown is to write these up as code blocks,…… Continue reading A List of Karl Barth’s Sermons
Spirit, Flesh, Restoration, and Sublimation
There’s an intriguing passage in Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison where he discusses the relationship between “spirit” and “flesh,” in the context of discussing “restoration” and “sublimation,” in the context of discussing lyrics from certain hymns and songs that were meaningful to him in prison. Here it is, from a December 19, 1943 (the…… Continue reading Spirit, Flesh, Restoration, and Sublimation
Barth and Bonhoeffer on Religion’s False God(s)
In The Epistle to the Romans, Barth writes the following concerning the false image of God at the heart of religion: What men on this side resurrection name ‘God’ is most characteristically not God. Their ‘God’ does not redeem his creation, but allows free course to the unrighteousness of men; does not declare himself to…… Continue reading Barth and Bonhoeffer on Religion’s False God(s)
Karl Barth’s Reversal on the “Knowledge of Good and Evil”
I argue that, although Barth’s interpretation of the Genesis passages changed between The Epistle to the Romans and the Church Dogmatics, his mature readings of Genesis 2–3 still support his overall theological critique of religion as idolatry, the self-justifying positing of false gods. Specifically, in Romans (240–57, esp. 246–51), Barth interpreted “the knowledge of good…… Continue reading Karl Barth’s Reversal on the “Knowledge of Good and Evil”
I wish these 2 Barth (and Bonhoeffer) books would come out sooner!
(Note: Read more about my work on Barth, Bonhoeffer, and the Bible here.) I’m really looking forward to reading these two Barth (and Bonhoeffer) books coming out from Baker in 2019: Freedom under the Word: Karl Barth’s Theological Exegesis. Edited by Ben Rhodes and Martin Westerholm. Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Theologians for a Post-Christian…… Continue reading I wish these 2 Barth (and Bonhoeffer) books would come out sooner!
Help me StickK to my writing habit
I need to finish this dissertation. To do so, I need to write regularly. For me, that means writing every day—a minimum of 500 words every day. Last spring, I did a pretty good job of writing regularly. However, I’ve fallen off the wagon for various reasons, and it’s been a bear to get back…… Continue reading Help me StickK to my writing habit
Bonhoeffer’s “Definition” of “Religion” in Prison: 15 Facets/Aspects
Based upon my own reading of Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison [DBWE 8], here is my attempt at a summary list of the facets/aspects of Bonhoeffer’s view of “religion” in prison. Religion emphasizes inwardness. [DBWE 8:362, 364, 455–57] Religion emphasizes conscience. [DBWE 8:362] Religion is a temporary phenomenon. [DBWE 8:362, 364] Religion is manipulative…… Continue reading Bonhoeffer’s “Definition” of “Religion” in Prison: 15 Facets/Aspects
Previously, I wrote about how the Scripture search tool in the Digital Karl Barth Library was broken. Thankfully, it appears to have been fixed (although it still has issues). This means I can search Barth's "Collected Edition" (Gesamtausgabe) if needed. However, I'm now having some issues with the copy of Barth's Church Dogmatics I purchased… Continue reading My Karl Barth Software Drama Continues: Inaccurate Page Numbers in Logos