Theology of Karl Barth course with Willie Jennings

I am taking Theology of Karl Barth with Willie Jennings at Duke Divinity School.  Here are our required texts.   

Primary sources:

  • Karl Barth: The Epistle to the Romans

    Karl Barth: The Epistle to the Romans

  • Karl Barth: God in Action: Theological Addresses

    Karl Barth: God in Action: Theological Addresses

  • Karl Barth: The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life: The Theological Basis of Ethics

    Karl Barth: The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life: The Theological Basis of Ethics

  • See my review of the two books above at Book Review: Karl Barth's God in Action–passionate, short, readable theology
  • Karl Barth: Evangelical Theology: An Introduction

    Karl Barth: Evangelical Theology: An Introduction

  • Karl Barth: The Church and the War

    Karl Barth: The Church and the War

  • Karl Barth: Homiletics

    Karl Barth: Homiletics

  • Karl Barth: Church Dogmatics (31 vols)

    Karl Barth: Church Dogmatics (31 vols)

  • We have access to the online digital edition of the new edition of the Church Dogmatics on the The Digital Karl Barth Library through Duke.
  • Link for Duke students who have NetID and Password.



    Secondary sources:

  • Claudia Koonz: The Nazi Conscience

    Claudia Koonz: The Nazi Conscience

  • Eberhard Busch: The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology

    Eberhard Busch: The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology

  • John Webster (editor): The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    John Webster (editor): The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

  • See my review at Book review of Karl Barth biography by Eberhard Busch
  • I have posted below my weekly reflections on Barth's Epistle to the Romans.  I will probably post all of them here. 

    Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 1-2.doc

    Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 3.doc

  • Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 4-5.doc
  • Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 6.doc

  • Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 7.doc
  • Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 8-9.doc
  • Download Barth–Epistle to the Romans Ch 10-11.doc
  • I am happy to send you the syllabus if you email me.  I have pasted the schedule below in case you want to read along. 

    January 12: The Formation of a Modern Theologian

    Journal Reading: Barth, Romans, Chapter 1

    Busch, The Great Passion, 3-38

    Barth, “The Great But,” and “Jesus and Judas” from Come Holy Spirit. (Article on Blackboard).

    Koonz, The Nazi Conscience, 1-45.

    January 19: No Class

    Journal: Barth, Romans, Chapter 2

    Barth, “Church and Culture” from Theology and Church. (Article on Blackboard).

    Knooz, The Nazi Conscience, 46-68

    January 26: Facing a Crisis

    Journal: Barth, Romans, Chapter 3

    Barth, God in Action

    Barth, “Fate and Idea in Theology,” from The Way of Theology in Karl Barth, ed. by H. Martin Rumscheidt. (Article on Blackboard).

    Knooz, The Nazi Conscience, 69-102

    February 2: The Forming of a Theological Vision [Essay for God in Action Due]

    Busch, The Great Passion, 39-54.

    Barth, The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life

    Knooz, The Nazi Conscience, 103-130

    Schwobel, “Theology” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    The World According to Barth

    February 9: Locating Theology I

    Journal: Barth, Romans, Chapter 5

    Busch, The Great Passion, 57-81

    Barth, “The First Commandment as an Axiom of Theology” from The Way of Theology in Karl Barth, ed. by H. Martin Rumscheidt. (Article on Blackboard).

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, I/1: §5; §8

    February 16: Locating Theology II

    Journal: Barth, Romans, Chapter 6

    Busch, The Great Passion, 128-151

    Barth, The Church and the War

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, I/2, §13; §16; §17

    “The Barmen Declaration,” from Creeds of the Churches, ed. by John Leith.(Article on Blackboard).

    February 23: The Triune Identity I

    Journal: Barth, Romans, Chapter 7

    Busch, The Great Passion, 82-105

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, II/1§25; §28*

    Torrance, “The Trinity” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    March 2: The Triune Identity II [Essay for The Church and War due]

    Busch, The Great Passion, 106-127

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, II/2, §33; §34*

    McCormack, “Grace and being: the role of God’s gracious election in Karl Barth’s theological ontology” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    March 9: Spring Reading Period

    Journal Reading: Barth, Romans, Chapter 9

    Knooz, The Nazi Conscience, 131-274

    Barth, “The Jewish Problem and the Christian Answer,” from Against the Stream: Shorter Post-War Writings, 1946-52 (Article on Blackboard).

    Werpehowski, “Karl Barth and Politics,” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    March 16: Creation and Nation I [Essay for “The Jewish Problem and the Christian Answer” due]

    Busch, The Great Passion, 176-198

    Barth, “The Church between East and West,” from Against the Stream: Shorter Post-War Writings, 1946-52 (Article on Blackboard).

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, III/1, §41*

    Tanner, “Creation and Providence” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    March 23: Creation and Nation II

    Journal Reading: Barth, Romans, Chapter 11

    Busch, The Great Passion, 152-175

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, III/2, §45, III/3, §49.2

    Krotke, “The humanity of the human person in Karl Barth’s Anthropology,” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    March 30: The Reconciling God

    Journal Reading: Barth, Romans, Chapters 12-15

    Busch, The Great Passion, 199-218

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/1, §59

    Hunsinger, “Karl Barth’s Christology: its basic Chalcedonian character,” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    April 6: The Holy Spirit and the Church

    Journal Reading: Barth, Romans, Chapters 15-16

    Busch, The Great Passion, 219-241

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/1, §62

    ____, Church Dogmatics, IV/2, §67.1/2

    Hunsinger, “The Mediator of Communion: Karl Barth’s doctrine of the Holy Spirit” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    April 13: The Holy Spirit and the Church

    Busch, The Great Passion, 242-264

    Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/3, §72

    James Buckley, “Christian Community, baptism, and Lord’s Supper” from Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth

    _______________________________

    Monday, April 20

    Barth, Homiletics (or) Barth, Evangelical Theology

  • Comments

    2 responses to “Theology of Karl Barth course with Willie Jennings”

    1. Joe Miller Avatar

      Hi,
      I started a series in January titled, “One Year With Karl Barth”

      I am reading through the CD and posting my thoughts and conclusions. I am new to Barth, but would love to have some interaction from those who are more experienced readers.

      God bless!

      href=”http://www.morethancake.org/search?q=%22karl+barth%22

    2. Gaven Rank Avatar
      Gaven Rank

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