Proefschrift--Godgeleerdheid--Utrecht, 1982. / Bibliogr. p. 234-240. Résumé en allemand. Index.

In the main, scholars have assumed that Karl Barth exhibited little theological interest in human knowing as a distinct topic in the Church Dogmatics, and that his pronouncements on it are mere footnotes in his exposition of the doctrine of revelation. However, my thesis is that in that work Barth crafts a vibrant and highly nuanced theological account of cognition as part of his actualistic conception of the human creature and its telos as God’s covenant partner. This study describes the contours of Barth’s account of the creature as an epistemic agent. I discuss how the basic shape of knowing in Barth’s theology is conditioned by the function it is ordained to serve as the creaturely presupposition of the knowledge and service of God. Evidence also suggests that Barth endorses the broad outlines of Kant’s understanding of the architecture of cognition on theological grounds, and so affirms it to be a “spontaneous” act – thus situating the creature as an epistemic agent. However, so construed, human knowing integrates well with Barth’s wider conception of human subjectivity and freedom insofar as ‘epistemic spontaneity’ – the idea that the creature actively determines the object of cognition – is a modulation of the type of freedom the creature is created for. Nevertheless, the question arises as to whether Barth carries his theological commitment to the creature as a spontaneous knower into the environments in which the act of cognition is said to be operational, namely, in the event of the knowledge of God and the knowing of everyday objects. The significance of this thesis to Barth studies is that it establishes how, far from being a peripheral issue, cognition functions as a distinctive and highly significant element of Barth’s conception of human creaturehood. It therefore contributes to efforts made to rescue that conception from the mistaken view that Barth allows divine sovereignty to suppress creaturely reality. Moreover, this thesis makes additional contributions to discussions about the creaturely ground of moral agency, Barth’s relationship to Kant, and the role human cognition receives in the event of the knowledge of God.

This thesis is an investigation of Karl Barth’s theology in the turbulent and dynamic years of his nascent career: 1915 – 1922, with a special focus on the manner in which he construed Christian and ecclesial existence. The thesis argues that Karl Barth developed his theology with an explicit ecclesial and ethical motive, that is, he developed his theology as a deliberate attempt to shape the ethical life of the church in the context within which he lived and worked. It contends that criticisms suggesting that Barth does not have an ethics are inaccurate assessments of his work, and in fact, that although it is evident that his ethical thought continued to develop throughout his career, major trajectories of Barth’s development are present in germinal form even at this early stage. Following the lead and suggestion of John Webster, the thesis adopts a chronological and exegetical reading of Barth’s work from his initial dispute with his liberal heritage circa 1915 until the publication of the second edition of his commentary on Romans. Materials examined from this period include sermons, lectures, book reviews, personal correspondence and biblical commentaries, with particular care being taken to identify the occasion and historical context within which Barth presented his thought. This reading seeks to uncover and present the development, structure, content and logic of Barth’s own thought, in hope that the central concerns of this thesis will be validated. Examination of these materials has indeed shown that Barth developed his theology with an ecclesio-ethical motive. The significance of this thesis is twofold. First, it contributes to broader understanding of Barth’s theology both in its early development, and with regard to his ecclesiology and ethics. Second, it provides a significant framework and material for contemporary ecclesial reflection on its own identity and mission.

Texte remanié de: Doct. th.--London--King's college. / Bibliogr. p. 235-248. Index.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät--Münster--Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, 2000. / Bibliogr. p. 611-632. Index.

Habilitationsschrift--Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät--München--Universität, 1998. / Bibliogr. p. 467-486. Index.

Proefschrift--Kampen--Theologische universiteit van de Gereformeerde kerken, 1995. / Bibliogr. p. 362-379. Index. Résumés en anglais et en allemand.

Dissertation--Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften und Theologie--Universität Dortmund, 2006. / Bibliogr. p. 323-331.

Dissertation--Kirchliche Hochschule--Wuppertal, 2003. / Bibliogr. p. 341-368.

Thesis (M. Div.)--Trinity International University, 2007. / Abstract. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-117).