Experts in Preterism, Neo-Calvinism, New Testament Use of the Old Testament, and Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion discuss various theological topics including the natural knowledge of God, common grace and worldview diversity, the Dutch Reform Church secession, Karl Barth's theology, and Thomas's trinitarian and sacramental theology.
Barth's theology emphasizes the eternal incarnation of Jesus Christ, challenging traditional notions of time and chronology.
Barth's doctrine of revelation highlights the intertextuality of the Bible, where all texts point to Jesus Christ as the essence of God.
Confessional faithfulness is paramount in Barth's theology, drawing inspiration from the offskiding movement and viewing departures from confessions as breaches of faithfulness to the Bible.
Deep dives
Barth's Understanding of God and Jesus Christ
Barth's theology is centered around the idea that God is Jesus Christ. He rejects the notion of a transcendent God who exists independently of Jesus Christ. According to Barth, Jesus Christ is not only fully God, but he is also the very essence of God and has always existed in flesh. This belief in the eternal incarnation challenges traditional understandings of time and chronology. Barth's view highlights the inseparable connection between God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of confessional faithfulness and the living expression of the church's faith.
Intertextuality and Barth's Doctrine of Revelation
Barth's understanding of intertextuality, or the use of texts from other parts of the Bible to interpret and understand Scripture, is crucial in his doctrine of revelation. He believes that all of the Bible points to Jesus Christ and that there is no independent revelation apart from Christ. Barth rejects the idea of a Lagos Asarkos, or an eternal word separate from the flesh, insisting that the Lagos has always been in flesh. This leads to his concept of an eternal incarnation, where Jesus Christ is not limited to human history but is eternally united with God. Barth's doctrine of revelation challenges traditional understandings of temporality and chronology, emphasizing the eternal presence of Jesus Christ in divine revelation.
The Importance of Confessional Faithfulness in Barth's Theology
Barth's theology is deeply rooted in the importance of confessional faithfulness. He draws inspiration from the offskiding, a secession movement within the Dutch Reformed Church in the 19th century. The offskiding was a response to perceived liberalization and increasing state control over the church. The movement emphasized the significance of maintaining confessional orthodoxy and saw the confessions as a safeguard for doctrinal purity. Barth, influenced by this tradition, believed that any departure from these confessions represented a breach of faithfulness to the Bible itself. He emphasized the living expression of the church's faith and the theological framework provided by the confessions.
Understanding Barth's Doctrine of God as Jesus Christ
Barth's doctrine of God as Jesus Christ challenges traditional notions of time and history. He contends that God has always been and always will be fully united with Jesus Christ, rejecting any notion of a transcendent God existing independently of Jesus Christ. This belief in the eternal incarnation suggests that Jesus Christ is not limited to human history, but rather that all of time is encompassed within the divine relationship between God and Jesus. Barth's theology prioritizes the inseparable connection between God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing their eternal unity and the significance of this doctrine for understanding God's relationship with humanity.
Defining Reformed Theology
Reformed theology is defined by the solas of the Reformation (scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, to the glory of God alone), an emphasis on covenant theology, and a connection to a historic creed or confession from the Reformed tradition. While there are different perspectives and debates within the Reformed community, these three elements provide a general framework for understanding Reformed theology.
Covenant Theology and Cultural Engagement
The discussion on covenant theology and cultural engagement in the thought of Meredith G. Kline involves multiple conversation partners. Three broad camps are identified: the Barnesian camp, which engages in dialogue with Kline's ideas on the kingdom of God; the Frame camp, which departs from Vossian biblical theological methodology and focuses on its own distinctive ideas; and the Neo-Calvinist camp influenced by Dooyeweerd. Kline's engagement with these camps sheds light on the substructural nature of these theological discussions and provides hope for future conversations.
Since 2008, we have been taking time around New Year’s Day to bring you some of the top moments from the preceding year. We have several great clips lined up for you today.
