Alpha and Omega: A Study in the Theology of Karl Barth

by Robert W. Jenson

The theology of Karl Barth, the world-renowned German religious philosopher, has won the interest of intelligent laymen as well as clergymen, seminarians, and students. This book is an analysis of the way in which Barth describes the existence of Christ as the beginning and end of human history. From the dominant cliche of modern theology--"Christianity is an historical religion"--it untangles three questions which it then directs to Barth's

1. To what end does God rule human history?
2. In what sense does God have a history and what is the relation between His history and ours?
3. What does the Christian assertion that Jesus, an historical event, is the meaning of life, say about the meaning of reality?

Through investigation of these questions, Alpha and Omega presents Barth's theology as an answer to the challenge presented by the loss of man's ancient belief in an eternal and unchanging framework and in a goal of life. The Church must speak to man as it finds him. Today it cannot assume that man already believes in "justice," "goodness," and "God." Christianity must learn to present Jesus Christ, in his unadulterated historical reality, as the meaning of man's life. Alpha and Omega shows that Barth's development of a proclamation in which Christ's life is seen as the unconditional goal of the history of creation, in which to live means to become Christ's brother and share in His story, is one of theology's few live possibilities--if not the only one.

Genres: Theology

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

Robert W. Jenson was a student of Barth's theology for many years, and his doctoral dissertation at the University of Heidelberg earned Barth’s approval as an interpretation of his writings. A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Jenson attended Luther College in Iowa and Luther Theological Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, before studying at Heidelberg where he was awarded his Doctor of Theology, summa cum laude. After doing graduate work at the University of Basel he returned to the United States. He taught theology for many years at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and St. Olaf College. Dr. Jenson also served as Senior Scholar for Research at the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, NJ. He died in 2017.

Reviews

[Glenn Wishnew III · Rating 5 out of 5]

A questioner asked Barth “has they’re been anyone who has comprehended your theology”

His response: “there is one, an American” and that American was Robert Jenson.

[Stephen Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written and clearly presented. A full review is forthcoming on my website www.SDMorrison.org