Dogmatics in Outline

Barth warns against using this text in a Cliff-Notes fashion for the larger work; however, modern reality being what it is, many students and readers will never find the time to explore the larger work, so this is a welcome text. It goes beyond 'Church Dogmatics' in some ways, in that this text (perhaps more than any other of Barth's, or perhaps on a par with his 'Humanity of God') serves as a guide to Barthian thought without the difficulty involved in his weightier works.

'Dogmatics in Outline' has as its backdrop the war-weary European theatre; indeed, these lectures were delivered in the bomb-damaged University of Bonn. If ever there were experiences that would question the love of God and the grace of God toward humanity, the experiences of the few years preceding these lectures would have served as such. Barth takes the experiences of World War II and the Holocaust into full account as he discusses the importance of faith. One of Barth's concerns throughout his career, and certainly in the aftermath of world war, is that moderns have lost the ability to speak in theological and faithful terms. Humanity has a tendency toward idolatry (an idea Barth shares with Tillich), even those who consider themselves orthodox.

Many Christians will readily recognise the overall outline of this Outline -- Barth uses the basic framework of the Apostle's Creed. Indeed, Barth hesitated to publish these lectures, given that he had two other works dealing with the Creed already published; however, it is this collection that stands best in memory. Perhaps it is Barth's method -- rather than reading a lecture, he gave a talk -- that makes this such a powerful work.

Barth begins by describing dogmatics as being a critical science concerned with the Christian church. Science here is not used in the terms of content but rather of intellectual method; like Tillich, Barth wanted the modern world to recapture the sense of necessity and validity of the theological enterprise, and using terminology and methodology made sense in this context. However, almost as soon as Barth described his task in terms of critical science, he gave an extended discourse on faith, in terms of trust, knowledge, and confession. Faith is a decision, Barth claims, that must be credible and comprehensible as well as accountable.

Never leaving aside Barth's key idea of the infinite difference between God and humanity, Barth traces through the statements of the Creed the love and grace of God toward humankind, and our response to that grace. Drawing heavily upon the New Testament texts and the overall history of salvation through the history of ancient Israel, Barth's sensitivity draws God and humanity into close relationship particularly through the person of Jesus Christ, in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continued in community through the church. The revelation of God, according to Barth, comes solely at God's discretion -- there is nothing we can do to force it, or merit it, but it is given to us all freely in any case, from God's infinite love.

Stanley Hauerwas recommends a yearly re-reading of Barth's 'Dogmatics in Outline' for those of us (which is all of us) 'tempted to forget our strangeness'. The book is not lengthy, and can be read fairly quickly in a few sittings. It is a great text.


Impressive brief of New Testament Theology   October 23, 2003
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Although not a long book, Dogmatics in Outline presents an impressive brief of New Testament theology. Barths ability to present a balanced outline, void of any radical deviations, not only makes for refreshing reading, but allows Barth to examine the Scriptures with much more insight than would otherwise be possible. Barth proposes a study of dogmatics based on history. It is the history of God's dealings with the nation of Israel and the church that leads us out of the realm of subjective philosophy and nonsensible theories about the nature of God into the account of the content of the proclamation of the church. The study of dogmatics based on history helps prevents us from being led astray by the sometimes false evidence of our thoughts and hearts and groups our faith on the evidence and testimony of the apostles and prophets.

Barths respect for the Scripture colors his whole theology. According to Barth, ones belief in the Word of God is equivalent to trusting it. When a Christian trust in the Word, he is given a gift of freedom by God, freedom not only from sin, but freedom to believe. One is no longer required to justify himself before God because God has set him free from such worry.

The strongest part of Barths book is his concept of revelation. Revelation is the sole prerogative of God- Gode revealing himself to man. It is because of this that it is mere speculation for man to try to prove the existence of God. Barth goes even one step farther by stating that trying to prove God by the so-called give famous proofs is mere folly since the bible speaks simply as God as being one who needs no proof. The sixty-four dollar question is how does God prove himself? Barth answers that God shows himself to man through history. According to Barth, the Bible is the record of God's deeds though which we can come to know God and that this climaxes in the person of Jesus Christ. Since God is the God if history natural revelation, the revelation of power, beauty and love is totally inadequate to come to saving knowledge of God. Natural revelation is only a witness to God and not about him.

All told this is an enlightening book, informative and well written. If you are looking to gain a further understanding of neo-orthodoxy, this book is for you.


An excellent beginning to Barthian thought   October 12, 2000
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

It took two readings for me to begin to appreciate the depth that Karl Barth put into this book. As my theology professor says, Barth is "deceptively easy" to read. This is indeed true. You read a paragraph and think you get an idea of what he is saying, but the philosophical ramifications of his perspectives are enormous. They blow apart human, frail understandings of God and forces one to view things differently, yet in a refreshing way. A great beginning to a monumental theologian.