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 PrintableVersion Engaging with BarthContemporary evangelical critiquesBarth under scrutinyENGAGING WITH BARTH This is not a book for the horizontal position! It is a demanding yet rewarding read to anyone interested in serious theological study. In this substantial volume of 12 stimulating essays, evangelical scholars of the calibre of Henri Blocher, Paul Helm, Michael Horton and Garry Williams wrestle with important topics raised by one of the theological giants of the 20th century. A former generation of evangelical pastors and teachers were understandably warned against Karl Barth and his neo-orthodoxy. On the other hand, an increasing number of modern evangelicals have been infatuated with his writings. His critique of old liberal views and the attention he has given to fundamental Christian doctrines has impressed many. Fair assessmentHow are evangelicals to assess Barth’s theology?The value of this book is that it deals fairly, critically and constructively with those areas where Barth’s views are misleading, confusing and contrary to evangelical belief, without undervaluing his contribution to the recovery of the Reformed tradition in academic circles. After a useful foreword by Carl Trueman, there is a necessary introduction by the editors in which they show the positive value of engaging with Barth’s writings while at the same time indicating the need for a critical assessment of his work. The topics that follow are so arranged to help the reader build up his appreciation of the issues involved without getting lost in the wealth of detailed analysis that is inevitable in a book of this nature. One of the appealing features of Barth’s theology to an evangelical is the central role that Jesus Christ occupies. Blocher considers this topic and indicates where Barth is unscriptural. This is followed by Rehnman’s essay in which he wrestles with Barth’s belief that though the central Christian doctrines of God’s tri-unity and incarnation are contradictory they can be confessed. Ryan Glomsrud’s contribution shows how Barth misread Reformed thinkers like Herman Bavinck. Other subjects include his views on covenant theology, his teaching on election from Romans 9-11, Scripture, the Trinity, the Atonement, and on God’s revelation of himself solely and exhaustively in Jesus Christ by Andrew McGowan, David Gibson, Mark Thompson, Michael Ovey, Garry Williams and Paul Helm respectively. Oliver Crisp considers the merits of Barth’s view on reprobation and hell over-against that of Jonathan Edwards’s. High view of churchDonald Macleod has an interesting essay that serves to bring together much of what has been discussed in previous essays. The particular subject that is considered is Barth’s high view of the Church in relation to theology. His concluding comments raise the question of whether it is right in principle for theology to be taught alongside other disciplines in an academic environment ‘of secular presuppositions and secular criteria’. The reader is advised to use Barth as selectively as he uses church dogmatics and to test everything by the Scriptures. A final chapter by Horton on Barth’s legacy concludes that he ‘remains an important figure to be reckoned with, neither to be lightly dismissed nor to be uncritically embraced. For good and for ill, his voice is still very much with us’. This is certainly a significant contribution that will be of particular value to pastors and students of theology. Philip H. Eveson,
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