Karl Barth (1886-1968)

Karl Barth was born in Basel and studied theology in Germany, where he learnt the latest breakthroughs in Bible exegesis. Indeed the historical-biblical school had then largely contributed to setting the Scriptures in their historical background, thus undertaking their demythologisation.

In 1914 when the war broke out he was a pastor in German Switzerland and felt the ethical limits of preaching mainly focused on “the opinion man has of God.” The exegesis was probably important, but dealt neither which with situations described in biblical texts, nor with their inner dynamics. Should not attention also be paid to a context which in itself is a kind of predication ? In other words, should not attention be paid to the testimonies within the texts, namely to “God’s opinion of men” ? Such a dialectical reversal was the basis of Barth’s ministry, work and commitments.

In his first major book, a commentary of The Epistle to the Romans – 1^st German edition in 1919-, Barth initiated dialectical theology, i.e. a theology simultaneously interested in God “because he is man’s God” and in man “because he is God’s man.” In the early thirties, he started writing his great Church Dogmatics which he worked on until 1967. He also wrote many articles. Though he was a university scholar, he always was a preacher as well.

As early as 1933, Karl Barth was actively opposed to Nazism. He was one of the first writers of the manifesto of the confessing Church, voted at the free synod in Barmen in 1934.

After 1945 and during the cold war, Barth committed himself on many issues. He also much admired the work of the Catholic Church during the Vatican II Council.

In 1968 upon his death the world seemed assured about its future, and some people said that Barth’s ethical requirements had to be rephrased. The debate he has started is far from ending.

Pastor Pierre Maury was most active in introducing Barth’s thought to France.