'Thy Word Is All' : Karl Barth's University Exegetical Lectures, 1921-1928
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‘Thy Word is All’: Karl Barth’s University Exegetical Lectures, 1921-1928 Carsten Card-Hyatt This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 1 August 2017 Abstract This thesis argues that Karl Barth’s exegetical lectures of the 1920s were guided by the need to reckon with the Bible’s claim to authority and to understand how this authority was derivative of the sovereign authority of God made known in revelation. The authority of the Bible communicates God’s claim on creatures and so obligates those who read it to recognise and respond to the moral and spiritual reality that is disclosed in its pages. Initially, these themes are located in Barth’s first two exegetical lectures in Göttingen. It is argued that in these lectures Barth shows a tension between God’s transcendence in revelation and the personal relationship of faith. This claim is substantiated by a historical excursus on Barth’s use of the distinction between the ‘two principles’ of Protestantism, which is how he orders the priority of Scripture throughout his career. It is argued that there is a persistence of 19th- century anxieties about scriptural authority within the church in Barth’s thought, which are traced through his teacher Wilhelm Herrmann’s understanding of revelation. These issues are carried over into his exegesis in the first half of the 1920s, yet a growing awareness of the meaning of Christ’s history as the object of faith mitigates earlier tensions. This line of thought culminates in Barth’s lectures on John, where he works through the implications in his exegesis of Jesus Christ revealing the electing God. This allows for a more positive account of the relationship of witness and revelation than had previously been possible. This position is contrasted with Barth’s colleague Erik Peterson. Finally, the significance of this account of revelation for Barth’s understanding of the authority of Scripture as the authority of the neighbour is shown in relation to Barth’s exegetical lectures from the late 1920s. 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Carsten Card-Hyatt hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 80,000 words in length, has been written by me, and that it is the record of work carried out by me, or principally by myself in collaboration with others as acknowledged, and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in November, 2013 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Divinity in October 2014 the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2013 and 2017. Date …… signature of candidate ……… 2. 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Where part of a thesis is to be embargoed, please specify the part and the reason. We say amisse, This or that is: Thy word is all, if we could spell. –George Herbert, ‘The Flower’ Table of Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………… 1 Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………………. 2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………… 3 1. The Place of the Bible in Barth’s Theology………………………………….…………. 3 2. Methodological Considerations…………………………………………………………. 10 Chapter 1. Eschatology and Apostleship…………………………………………………... 17 1.1 Refracted Light: The Epistle to the Ephesians (Göttingen, 1921/1922)……………….. 19 1.2 Preacher of Repentance: The Epistle of James (Göttingen, 1922/1923)………………. 33 1.3 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 41 Chapter 2. Barth and the Scripture Principle………………………………………………. 45 2.1 The Two Principles of Protestantism: Against a False Obedience……………………. 47 2.2 Wilhelm Herrmann on the Personal Power of God…………………………….……… 53 2.3 God’s Transcendence and the Formal Scripture Principle…………………….………. 61 2.4 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 69 Chapter 3. Resurrection and Salvation History……………………………………………. 72 3.1 The Preaching of Christ’s Resurrection: The Resurrection of the Dead (Göttingen, 1924)………………………………………………………………………. 74 3.2 The Creature in Covenantal History: The Sermon on the Mount (Göttingen, 1925)….. 85 3.3 The Witness in Christ’s History: The Gospel of John (1:1-39) (Münster, 1925/1926)……………………………………………………….…………. 93 3.4 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 106 Chapter 4. Christology and Christ in History……………………………………………… 109 4.1 Christology in the Göttingen Dogmatics………………………………………………. 111 4.2 Nicodemus and the Crisis of Belief: The Gospel of John (3:1-21)……………………. 117 4.3 Bread from Heaven: The Gospel of John (6:25-58)…………………………………… 122 4.4 Erik Peterson and the ‘Manifest’ Christ………………………………….……………. 126 4.5 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 132 Chapter 5. Christ’s Authority in Church and Neighbour…………………………………... 137 5.1 Revisiting the Canon: James II (Münster, 1928/1929)………………………………… 140 5.2 The Authority of the Neighbour: Philippians (Münster, 1926/27)……………….……. 146 5.3 The Münster Ethics……………………………………………………………...……... 159 5.4 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………... 165 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………. 166 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………….......17 1 Acknowledgements I have been the joyful recipient of many kindnesses since the beginning of this project, and I gratefully acknowledge a few of them here. First, to my supervisor Professor John Webster, whose untimely death in May of 2016 was a loss to many, including myself. John encouraged and directed my work with his characteristic gracious care and attention. He was a real teacher, and it was a privilege to be his student. Professor Mark Elliot took over my supervision at a difficult time and has seen the project through to its conclusion with patience and good humour. Professor Fred Sanders, of Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute, woke me from my undogmatic slumber and knew what I really wanted to read before I did. I am also grateful to Dr. Don Wood and Professor Judith Wolfe for agreeing to exam my thesis, and providing a gracious and engaging Viva. The University of St Andrews has provided a hospitable academic home for the last four years, and part of this research was made possible by the University’s United College Fee scholarship. The Karl Barth Nachlass Kommission granted me access to the Karl Barth Archive, and the St. Mary’s College provided funding for a research trip. The head of the Archive, Peter Zocher, was an excellent host and expert guide to Barth’s unpublished work. The librarians of New College Library at the University of Edinburgh have also been of great assistance, especially in providing access to Special Collections materials. My time in Scotland has been shaped by many friendships, chief among them David Robinson’s. David, συνεργὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳτοῦ Χριστοῦ, has been and continues to be a true friend, and without his conversation, generous criticism, and unflagging support, I would be bereft.