Election, Atonement, and the Holy Spirit' is an examination of the doctrines of election and atonement in Karl Barth's 'Church Dogmatics', taking up Barth's own challenge to his reader to surpass his argument and offer a better typological interpretation of the cultic texts. Barth's radical re-working of Calvin's doctrine of election is one of the most important developments in twentieth-century theology. Christ synthesizes for Barth a particular dialectic: the binary structure of God's Yes of election and God's No of rejection. The book's central question - how can Jesus simultaneously be both the elected and the rejected (CD II/2), acting as both the judge and the judged (CD IV/1)? - is followed by an exploration of the roles of the Holy Spirit and human freedom in God's electing and saving action. Although commentators acknowledge Barth's innovation in this area but also identify problems with his approach, few have offered what David Ford has called a correction 'from within' Barth, using Barth's own method. Using the concept of Existenzstellvertretung, this critique of Barth's exegetical justification for the doctrines offers an alternative exegesis that not only provides this much-needed correction, but also immerses the reader in a fresh engagement with Scripture itself.

About the Author
Revd Dr Matthias Grebe studied theology at Tubingen, Cambridge, and Princeton. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bonn.

Reviews
"Grebe enters into detailed and critical engagement with several major loci of Barth's Church Dogmatics...skillfully drawing out their interconnection with one another." -Susannah Ticciati, King's College London, Modern Believing, Vol.57:1, January 2016 "Grebe's work will interest constructive theologians concerned with rethinking the atonement and the growing number who are attracted to the 'theological interpretation of Scripture'. ... The best way to engage this book - and Barth! - is with a Bible open next to you. In this sense, Grebe shows himself to be the best type of 'Barthian' - one who learns from Barth materially and methodologically without remaining trapped within Barth's conclusions." -Derek W. Taylor, Theology 119 (2), March-April 2016 "...it is certainly an interesting and worthy read, and puts forward arguments which are well worth considering." -Kris Hiuser, Theological Book Review, Vol. 27 No.1, 2016



Book Information
ISBN 9780227175170
Author Matthias Grebe
Format Paperback
Page Count 312
Imprint James Clarke & Co Ltd
Publisher James Clarke & Co Ltd
Weight(grams) 461g