Barth's Conception of the Authority of the Bible

Authors

Thomas Coates, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Publication Date

8-1-1954

Document Type

Article

Keywords

barth, christology, christian faith

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

The Barthian theology has often been defined as a "theology of the Word of God." The Word of God is indeed central in Barth's theological system, and to understand his conception of the Word of God is to hold the key which opens the door to all his theological thinking. Is this conception something new in the realm of Christian thought, or is it merely a rcpristination of the Reformation doctrine? Does the Barthian doctrine remain within the mainstream of the Christian tradition, or does it meander off into the slough of a new and disguised rationalism and empty itself at last in the morass of an utter subjectivism? Specifically, how does the Bible fit into the pattern of Barth's doctrine of the Word of God? What authority does he ascribe to the Biblical word? In how far does he lay himself open to the charge of "Biblicism"? These are some of the issues to which we wish to address ourselves, and in the process we hope to gain a better understanding of what the Bible means to Barth.

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)

John 1:1; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 3:5;

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Coates, Thomas (1954) "Barth's Conception of the Authority of the Bible," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 25, Article 43.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol25/iss1/43