Karl Barth’s Theology of Joy John Mark Capper Selwyn College Submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy University of Cambridge April 1998 Karl Barth’s Theology of Joy John Mark Capper, Selwyn College Cambridge, April 1998 Joy is a recurrent theme in the Church Dogmatics of Karl Barth but it is one which is under-explored. In order to ascertain reasons for this lack, the work of six scholars is explored with regard to the theme of joy, employing the useful though limited “motifs” suggested by Hunsinger. That the revelation of God has a trinitarian framework, as demonstrated by Barth in CD I, and that God as Trinity is joyful, helps to explain Barth’s understanding of theology as a “joyful science”. By close attention to Barth’s treatment of the perfections of God (CD II.1), the link which Barth makes with glory and eternity is explored, noting the far-reaching sweep which joy is allowed by contrast with the related theme of beauty. Divine joy is discerned as the response to glory in the inner life of the Trinity, and as such is the quality of God being truly Godself. Joy is seen to be “more than a perfection” and is basic to God’s self-revelation and human response. A dialogue with Jonathan Edwards challenges Barth’s restricted use of beauty in his theology, and highlights the innovation Barth makes by including election in his doctrine of God. In the context of Barth’s anthropology, paying close attention to his treatment of “being in encounter” (CD III.2), there is an examination of the significance of gladness as the response to divine glory in the life of humanity, and as the crowning of full and free humanness. The study then culminates in a consideration of the role which joy plays in Barth’s doctrine of reconciliation (CD IV) with particular reference to the “Easter event”. A range of critical issues arises from this, and these, together with others gathered from previous chapters, suggests a brief concluding list of questions to Barth. Karl Barth’s Theology of Joy Contents Abbreviations 5 Acknowledgements 7 1. TOWARD A THEOLOGY OF JOY 8 2. JOY IN THE CHURCH DOGMATICS 14 2.1 The Trinity and revelation 17 2.2 Human response to revelation 20 2.3 Joy, love, neighbour and mission 24 2.4 The role of dogmatics 26 2.5 Summary 30 3. BARTH AND HIS COMMENTATORS 33 3.1 Hunsinger’s “motifs” 34 3.2 T. F. Torrance 37 3.3 Hans Urs von Balthasar 41 3.4 G. C. Berkouwer 45 3.5 Robert P. Jenson 50 3.6 Eberhard Jüngel 55 3.7 Alan J. Torrance 63 3.8 Summary of investigation of commentators 66 3.9 Hunsinger revisited 68 3.10 Focus of this reading of the Church Dogmatics 69 4. JOY, BEAUTY AND GOD 71 4.1 Joy as a key theme in Barth’s doctrine of God. 72 4.2 The perfections of God 74 4.3 Glory and eternity 78 4.4 Glory 80 4.5 Glory and joy 83 4.6 Glory and beauty 87 4.7 Joy in God 93 4.8 Joy as more than a perfection 96 4.9 Barth’s limitations on joy 97 4.10 Barth’s limitations on beauty 100 4.11 Summary 101 5. BARTH, EDWARDS AND GOD 103 5.1 Beauty 104 5.1.1 Edwards: the happiness and beauty of God 105 5.1.2 Edwards: the Trinity and Beauty 106 5.1.3 Joy and Edwards’ Trinity 113 5.1.3.1 Joy and love in God 114 5.1.3.2 Joy and beauty in God 115 5.1.4 Barth, Edwards and joy 117 5.2 Election 118 5.2.1 Barth, joy and election 118 5.2.1.1 Barth’s doctrine of election 121 5.2.2 Edwards, happiness and the elect 125 5.2.3 Barth and Edwards: joy and election 132 5.2.4 Continuing the “unfinished revolution” 134 6. BARTH, CREATION AND HUMANITY 135 6.1 Humanity in creation’s choir 138 6.2 Barth and human gladness 142 6.2.1 Gratitude and obedience 143 6.2.2 Humanity: elected in and for joy 144 6.2.3 Grace, gratitude and gladness 146 6.2.4 Gratitude and election 149 6.2.5 The secret of “being in encounter” 151 6.2.6 Human joy in Barth 154 6.3 Joy and gladness 154 7. RESURRECTION AND JOY 156 7.1 Joy in Volume IV of the Church Dogmatics 157 7.1.1 Glory and resurrection in CD IV 157 7.1.2 Resurrection and joy in post-Easter history 159 7.1.3 God and humanity in the Easter event 161 7.1.4 Glory and joy in Jesus Christ 163 7.1.5 Joy and hope in Jesus Christ 166 7.1.6 The Easter event and the theologia gloriae 167 7.2 Limitations of Barth’s conceptualization of joy 168 7.2.1 Barth’s objectivism and personalism: some problems for the saints 169 7.2.2 Realism and rationalism: the challenge of art and performance 172 7.2.3 Hunsinger’s motifs reviewed 176 7.3 Joy in resurrection as act and performance 176 7.3.1 Questions to Karl Barth 177 Sources of Epigrams 180 BIBLIOGRAPHY 181 Abbreviations Abbreviations which are used include: AAR American Academy of Religion AB Anchor Bible BibSac Bibliotheca Sacra CD Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics DM Jonathan Edwards, The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God ..... EC Jonathan Edwards, Concerning the End for which God Created the World (in Yale, 8) EvQ Evangelical Quarterly EvT Evangelische Theologie ExpT The Expository Times FW Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will. (Yale, 1) GD Karl Barth, Göttingen Dogmatics Grace Jonathan Edwards, Treatise on Grace ICC International Critical Commentary In Sent Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Peter Lombard’s Sentences . Int Interpretation JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JPT Journal of Pentecostal Theology JPTSup Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplementary Volume JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JTS Journal of Theological Studies KD Karl Barth, Kirchliche Dogmatik LA Philo, Legum Allegoria (An Allegorical Interpretation of Genesis 2) LCC Library of Christian Classics LCL Loeb Classical Library LXX Septuagint Mind Jonathan Edwards, The Mind (in Yale, 6) Misc. Jonathan Edwards, The “Miscellanies” (Yale, 13, unless noted) The subsequent number and title refer to Edwards’ nomenclature. NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament NIDNTTh New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology NIV New International Version NRSV New Revised Standard Version NZSTh Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie OTLib Old Testament Library Pacifica Pacifica: Journal of the Melbourne College of Divinity PTMS Princeton Theological Monograph Series RA Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections , (Yale, 2) SBL Society of Biblical Literature Sinners “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Sermon on Deut. 32:35,…”. SJT Scottish Journal of Theology SJTOP Scottish Journal of Theology Occasional Papers Spec Philo, De Specialibus Legibus (The Special Laws) TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament TDNT (1 vol.) TDNT – abridged in one volume. TDOT Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament TEH Theologische Existenz Heute ThLz Theologische Literaturzeitung ThSt Theological Studies ThTo Theology Today TRE Theologische Realenzyklopädie Trin. Jonathan Edwards, An Unpublished Essay…on the Trinity TV Jonathan Edwards, Dissertation on…True Virtue (in Yale, 8) TWNT German original of TDNT TZ Theologische Zeitschrift WAM Karl Barth, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , 1956. WBC Word Biblical Commentary ZdZ Zwischen den Zeiten ZNW Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche Standard reference works are cited by abbreviated title (e.g., TDNT 6:123). In the case of Barth’s Dogmatics, citation is CD (or KD), then Vol. Part. page. (The revised edition of CD I.1 is referred to throughout.) Where possible the Yale edition of the Works of Jonathan Edwards is used. Biblical quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version unless stated. 6 Acknowledgements I am grateful to Revd Captain Tim. Dakin for his encouragement to consider studies with Professor David Ford in Cambridge. I am even more grateful to Professor Ford for taking on the project in its embryonic state. The arrival of Professor Daniel Hardy in Cambridge helped broaden my horizons with reference to the value of including an engagement with Jonathan Edwards. The tone of the invitation to explore joy, which was set in Jubilate , has continued and expanded in the hospitality in which Professors Ford and Hardy have helped me to celebrate, explore, think, write and persevere. Hospitality was also extended by Professor Alasdair Heron in the Reformierte Theologie Bibliothek in Erlangen and in his home; and by Revd Dr Bruce Winter and the library staff of Tyndale House Cambridge. I am indebted to the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) for a two month scholarship to the Goethe Institute in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Jan-Feb 1996; the University of Cambridge Faculty of Divinity German Language Fund, Theological Studies Fund and Bethune-Baker Fund; Selwyn College Travel-, Gosden- and Keith Frazer Book- Funds; GFS (The Girls’ Friendly Society - An Anglican Ministry) of the Diocese of Sydney; The Sydney Diocesan Book and Education Fund; Ridley Hall Cambridge, for the opportunity of sharing in teaching and pastoral care; and Bishop Stephen Sykes of Ely and Revd Ian Friars, Rector of Cottenham, for ministry opportunities and encouragement. My greatest debt is to Wendy, who has incarnated joy and managed to provide food and love in our home; and to Christy, Naomi, Miriam and Jemima who radiate their mother’s and their Father’s joy — and so have lots to teach me.