1st Edition

Ecclesial Mediation in Karl Barth

By John Yocum Copyright 2004
    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    Karl Barth is widely considered the greatest theologian of the Twentieth Century, exerting a major influence in almost every area of theological thought in both Reformation and Roman Catholic traditions. Ecclesial Mediation in Karl Barth deals with one of the most important and controversial themes in Barth's theology, the relation between divine and human action. John Yocum argues that Barth's late rejection of the concept of sacrament, explicated in the final volume of his Church Dogmatics, is not only at odds with his account of the nature and importance of sacraments presented earlier in the Church Dogmatics but subverts important elements of his theology as a whole especially the mediation of divine grace in preaching and the Bible. Bringing Barth into fruitful dialogue with Yves Congar, Yocum contends that the notion of sacrament is crucial to an account of the divine-human relation that respects the character of both agents.

    Contents: Introduction; 'The doctrine of the word of God': the sacramental area of the Church; The doctrine of God: knowledge of God, election and covenant as foundational themes; History, concursus, prayer and the role of angels; Ecclesial mediation in Church Dogmatics IV/1-3; The Baptism fragment; Conclusion; Bibliography; Indexes.

    Biography

    John Yocum

    '... this is stimulating, careful and well researched material which helps us understand not just Barth but our being as Christians.' The Expository Times '... clear and well-written...' Theology ’The strength of Yocum's account lies in his thorough and judicious survey of Barth's sacramental emphases and notions of covenantal grace throughout the Church Dogmatics.’ Evangelical Quarterly