Barth: A Guide for the Perplexed

Guides for the Perplexed

by Paul T. Nimmo

Karl Barth is perhaps the most influential Protestant theologian of the twentieth century. This Guide to his thought, written by one of the leading scholars of Barth, offers a concise but comprehensive introduction to his theology. The first chapter of the book considers the life and work of Karl Barth. Thereafter, the chapters examine in turn the key theological topics which Barth treated in his magnum opus, the Church Dogmatics – the doctrine of the Word of God, the doctrine of God, the doctrine of creation, and the doctrine of reconciliation. In each case, the theological path which Barth follows is first traced and then illuminated, recognising key lines of critique at appropriate junctures. The final chapter considers the legacy of the work of Barth, and the book closes with a list of suggestions for further reading. This structure follows the series format of the Bloomsbury T&T Clark Guides for the Perplexed, and offer a clear and accessible introduction to Barth’s thought.

Genres: Theology

226 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2013

Reviews

[Daniel Hernández · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry. Not the best introduction honestly. Written much like a string of facts.

[Tim Seow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slim, single volume work that is densely packed with a brief but critical overview of Barth's Church Dogmatics. For the most part, Nimmo proceeds sequentially through CD. In the penultimate chapter on Ethics, Nimmo draws out key themes of ethics as "General Ethics" and then as "Special Ethics", retrieved from across the volumes of CD, with a foray into The Christian Life.

Well worth the read to understand Barth's thought through a wide lens.

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent one-volume introduction to Karl Barth's life and theology, as reflected in Church Dogmatics! If you have any interest in Dialectic Theology, you must read this book.

[Morgan Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful walk through Barth's Dogmatics.

[André Sette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful