Karl Barth on Theology and Philosophy

301 Pages·2012·2.35 MB·English

by  Kenneth Oakes

KARL BARTH ON THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
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Karl Barth on Theology
and Philosophy
KENNETH OAKES
1
3
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Acknowledgements
The following is a revised version of my PhD thesis written under Prof.
John Webster at the University of Aberdeen. John’s instruction in the
discipline of Christian dogmatics has been an invaluable gift, and for his
irreplaceable advice, timely commentary, and unflagging support I am
deeply grateful. Also from my time at Aberdeen, Francesca Murphy proved
a gifted educator regarding all things literary, culinary, and Gilsonian,
while Brian Brock served as a model for doing theology and ethics in the
times and habitations appointed to us. Many thanks are also due to Philip
Ziegler and Fergus Kerr for their suggestions and advice as my examiners.
Iam also gratefulthatmanyofthe financialburdensassociatedwithhigher
education were substantially lightened by a Sixth Century Scholarship from
the University of Aberdeen and an Overseas Research Student Award
Scheme.
Research for this work was also undertaken at Princeton Theological
Seminary and the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. From PTS I am
thankful for the assistance of Stephen Crocco, Clifford Anderson, David
Wall,andespeciallyBruceMcCormack.Bruce’sworkonBarthisasinspiring
asitisintimidatingandIamgratefulforhisfriendship,hisprovocations,and
his generosity with his time. For all of my disagreements with Bruce on the
finer details of Barthiana, I consider myself to be working with similar pre-
suppositions and towards comparable ends. From my time at Tübingen,
I would like to thank Prof. Christoph Schwöbel and Martin Wendte for
theirhospitality,encouragement,andconstantsupport.
Thequestionsthatledtothisworkwereoriginallyinspiredbyindependent
studieswithD.StephenLong,andStevehasbeenawonderfulfriendthrough-
outthisprocess.Iwouldalsoliketoacknowledgetheinspirationprovidedby
some of my earliest theological educators: John Wesley Wright, Michael
Lodahl,MichaelMcConnell,andHerbertPrince.
David Clough, Paul Dafydd Jones, and Stanley Hauerwas magnanimously
read earlier versions of this work, and for their patience, suggestions, and
willingnesstoreadquitealengthyworkIamintheirdebt.Paulinparticular
read several distended incarnations of this monograph and at each stage his
keen editorial eye offered numerous improvements and suggestions; this
would have been a much poorer work were it not for his interventions and
indefatigableabilitytoreadthroughamanuscriptyetagain.
Acknowledgements vii
ThewritingofthisworkwasthankfullyinterruptedbythelikesofScottand
Molly Prather, Aaron Denlinger, and David Gilland. It was made possible
through the help and love of my father Ray, Kevin, Kendra, and Ross; the
hospitalityandgenerosityofFranciscoGarcíaChulviandConsueloLosquiño
Gómez; and the extravagant encouragement and patience of Irene García
Losquiño.Thisworkisdedicatedtomymother.
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Table of Contents
ListofAbbreviations xi
Introduction 1
Firstimpressions:theSociétéonKarlBarthandphilosophy 1
ApproachingBarthontheologyandphilosophy 7
Arguments,texts,andterms 17
1. TheEarlierBarth 21
WilhelmHerrmannandthemoderntheology 22
TheologyandphilosophyintheearlyBarth 28
TheologyinthetimeoftheGreatWar 45
Concludingremarks 59
2. ReadingPaulAmidstandAftertheGreatWar 60
RomansI 63
InbetweenRomansIandII 69
RomansII 74
Barthamongstthephilosophers 84
Concludingremarks 87
3. Philosophy,Preaching,andProlegomena 89
FromRomanstodogmatics 90
TheGöttingenDogmatics 98
Thearmisticequestioned 110
TheChristlicheDogmatik 115
Concludingremarks 123
4. TheRoaringLaterTwenties 125
Theologicalandphilosophicalethics 125
Kantandtheparergaofreligion 140
TheGodsoffate,theGodsofidea 149
Concludingremarks 159
5. Barth’sThirdProlegomenon 161
ChurchDogmaticsI/1 161
Betweentheprolegomena 175
ChurchDogmaticsI/2 182
Concludingremarks 191