Review of the Book: Evangelical Theology Essay

Held in high esteem by more critics as one of the most original delivery worldly concernian thinkers of the modern era, Karl Barth was a Swiss theologian who primarily emphasized on the sovereignty of God. In this regard, his perspectives can buoy be considered as external. This secularism in the study of divinity fudges and religion was genuinely inventive in terms of genuineness. Barths famous book evangelistic devotion An Introduction is based on continuity and unity, and looks into the constructs of faith, existence and reason. This prove is going to deal with few of the core ideas Barth introduced in his book.The inventions will be critically analyzed with regards to citations from the original text. jibe to Barth, the term Theology is implicated with a very special domain of science that attempts to understand god. evangelical Theory of Theology An Introduction gives a basic idea of Barths outlooks on theology. Theology as described by the author is the invent of go d. Theo popularly alludes to gift of god and logy relates to language, logic or Word. According to the author, the record of god is the ultimate soul of theology and it stands and fails with it.Theology itself is a word, a human response yet what makes it theology is not its stimulate word unless the word which it hears and which it responds to Evangelical Theory of Theology An Introduction, page 15. To retell it, theology asserts not itself but the word of god and places it above everything. When it comes to the word of god, we need not support in mind one ill- convictiond premise, i. e. , there is only one god. The study of religion has proved it time and again that each person has its own god or gods as the object of his highest desire and trust, or as the basis of his deepest loyalty and commitment. (Barth et al. 3) So Barth discusses theology and overlord matters from the perspective of religion and philosophical system. His secular approaches in version theology becom e apparent when he states, There is no philosophy that is not to some extent also theology. Not only does this accompaniment apply to philosophers who desire to affirm or who, at least, are mend to admit that divinity, in a positive sense, is the essence of truth and world-beater of some kind of highest principle (Barth et al. 3) The author alludes into the history of Israel to affirm the concept of residential district as connected with the history of Jesus delivery boy.The gospel of god can be interpreted from a humanistic perspective when Christ is realized as a true god and true man. He elucidates the idea of mans oneness with god by stating, The federation is confronted and created by the Word of God (Barth 38) the God who descends to community with man, gracious in his freedom, and of man who is exalted to community with him, thankful in his freedom. (Barth 22) The analytical mind of the author makes him ask question about truth in terms of existence of god.The presu ppositions of modern theology are questioned and doubted repeatedly as Barth raises some pertinent issues related to the truthfulness of gods existence, mans connection with god, the validity of the chosen status of Israel, myths surrounding Christs death and so on. The acceptance of the Word of god as truth by community is another contentious issue jibe to the author. It is one thing accepting something as final, and it is another thing misgiving what is accepted with a sincere and rational mindset. So it is important for the community to clarify the conceptualizations regarding the Word of god.(Barth 39) Though Barth had been associated with a church as a pastor in his early career, he was not as despotic as his peers. He believed that Gods decree was not to privilege Christians over Jews (or any other non Christian) but to be with the people and bear their sufferings. This is why he professed Jesus Christ as the medium of divine election. He believed that theology is a langua ge for the spirit but it does not preach self ascertainment. Service is also an important vista of Evangelical Theology. It does not glorify oneself but the person whom it serves.Theology can be interpreted as the servitude towards divinity. From a more practical propose of view it may reflect mans involvement in the dish up of the society as well as in the service of god. Modesty, as claimed in the book, is considering theology as a selfless service. The recognition of our own inner power and capacity to reach our goals is exemplified through the theological concept of remaining faithful to divine knowledge and wisdom. He states, Theology will be faithful to its object only and precisely when it allows itself to be tempted by it. (Barth 160) The believer must leave his salvation to gods judgment even if he harbors any doubt or solitude. many another(prenominal) other important aspects of theology such as Faith, Prayer and eff have been discussed thoroughly. It not only portray s Theology as a immanent science but it also tries to loosen up the orthodox bindings on itself. Karl Barth in his book had tried to uplift theology from its confines in the church to a subject that requires immense academic research and individual perspectives.Work CitedBarth, Karl, and Grover Foley. Evangelical Theology An Introduction. Grand Rapids Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1979.