Barth's Theology

A Sketch of Karl Barth



      After studying classical liberal theology, Barth's theology was absolutely amazing and refreshing.  Barth's dialectical method of theology is very intriguing.  For Barth, the dialectical method of theology is the balancing of saying that we can know fully objective things of God and saying that he is so transcendent that we cannot possibly know anything about him.  These two extremes known as dogma and self criticism are balanced by a dialectical approach to theology. 
       One thing I love about Barth's theology is that it is totally Christ centered.  Barth stressed that Jesus is the image of God made flesh, the ultimate revelation of God to man.  In Christ alone does man find reconciliation with God.  Though Barth had such a wonderful view of Christ, his theology on the atonement drifted towards universal election. 
      Barth's focus on God's sovereignty also gives me great joy.  We cannot know God or speak of God unless it is by His grace.  This is so true.  It is only by God's grace that we can know him and speak of Him.  Taking this further, Barth pressed the idea that we can never speak of God unless God speaks through us.   When God speaks through us, he is unveiling himself through the veil of human language.  This is so interesting to me.  I mostly agree with Barth here, but I do believe that we can say some objective things about God even though they may not be fully understood. 
      God veils and unveils himself to us in the Word of God.  For Barth, this is not actually the Bible.  Barth breaks the Word of God into three components:  the Word Proclaimed, the Word Written, and the Word Revealed.  The Bible fits inside the Word written.  The Word Proclaimed is when people preach.  Finally, the Word Proclaimed refers to Jesus.  Though Barth had such a great view of the Bible, he did not directly associate it with the Word of God. 
      Though Barth's theology does not directly regard the Bible as the Word of God, I agree with a lot of Barth's theology. I think he did a great job of providing a dialectical method of theology.  Barth properly attributes a division between creator and created.  At the center of Barth's theology, his Christology is absolutely beautiful.  Whenever I read or read of Barth's theology, I find myself greatly engaged and fascinated.  He was a truly remarkable theologian.