| Summary: | 碩士 === 基督教台灣浸會神學院 === 基督教神學研究所 === 104 === Karl Barth (1886-1968) is considered to be the twentieth century’s most prominent theologian. Barth is outstanding because his contributions to the Christianity for carrying on the past heritage and opening up the future opportunities. Through emphasizing “the Revelation of God” in the Bible, on the one hand Barth reversed the direction of Christian theology three centuries before his time, led Christian churches to return back to the mission of preaching the Christ-centered gospel; on the other hand, Barth’s theology also deeply affected many great theologians in his contemporary, which also generated many positive impacts on Christianity and further influenced the societies outside of the church.
In 1919, Barth published “The Epistle to the Romans” first edition. The book shocked the European theologians, and was likened to “a bombshell thrown into the playground of the theologians.” It was recognized as an epoch-making works. However, in 1921, Barth totally rewrote “The Epistle to the Romans” for its second edition. This book made Barth really famous and had far-reaching influence on Christian theology. It also served as the foundation work of the Barth’s theology. Since the publication of this book, Barth’s theology was known as “dialectical theology” and “crisis theology.”
This thesis is to focus on the chapters 9-11 in “The Epistle to the Romans” to reflect the criticism given by Barth to churches. Through the themes which Barth had discussed: why churches encounter catastrophes? Subsequently, what are the guilt churches commit? Why the guilt of the church is the crisis of knowledge of God? And what is the hope of the church amid her tribulation? In these three chapters, Barth presented his Christological ecclesiology.
Hopefully, through this thesis, research interests on Barth’s theology can be aroused among Chinese churches. So every individual church can hear the Word of God through His servant Karl Barth. Let churches be renewed by Holy Spirit, and be strengthened to witness for Jesus Christ in this eschaton.
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