I realize I’ll be preaching to the choir–that is, the guys who will participate in this blog are the only ones who know about it at this point–but I have an urge to write something, because I’m excited about this new venture. I hope none of the guys mind.
T & T Clark, the original publisher of Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics, has reissued those volumes and sold the rights to the old printing to Hendrikson Publishers. Earlier this year, Christianbook.com listed the 14-volume old edition of CD for $99, which was a mark-down of some $900. On the campus of Providence Seminary a brief and mild panic ensued. Theology students approached one another like drug dealers or gossips with an offer that they knew many could not refuse: “Pssst–hey buddy! Yes, you! Are you looking for some Church Dogmatics?” and “Did you hear? Church Dogmatics for $99!”
Initially I didn’t think it was a worthwhile investment for me. When, quite frankly, would I find the time to read such dense and lengthy material? I mentioned the deal to Dr. Chris Holmes–at that time the systematic theology professor at the seminary–and he not only suggested I purchase the set, but implored me to do so. Even if I only use it as a commentary on scripture, he said, it would provide a lifetime of material. And so I purchased it. Many others did as well.
After months of receiving emails from Christianbook.com, telling me that the set is back ordered and won’t be available until November, last week I finally received an email confirming that the books had shipped! They’ve been sitting in Mississauga, Ontario for a couple of days now, according to Canada Post’s package tracker. I imagine they will remain there until I’m surprised with a package pick-up notice in my mailbox.
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Joel, Rick and I had a brief exchange at Joel’s blog about doing a joint Barth blog for those people on campus who bought CD. That was earlier this morning; now here we are with a blog, with a clever name that Joel came up with. Technology!
I’m quite excited about this little endeavour, but I have some confessions to make:
1. I can’t honestly say that I heart Barth–at least not yet. All I’ve read of Barth so far is a few sections of Evangelical Theology, and, quite frankly, I was in a hurry when I read them, so not much has sunk in. On the other hand, I have very much enjoyed the writings of those who have been influenced by Barth, such Thomas Torrance and Eugene Peterson. I’m sure I will grow to heart Barth. Rick and Joel assure me that I will.
2. I’m afraid I won’t contribute as much to this blog as I would like–at least not in terms of Barth specifically. I’m a wandering and non-committing reader. I’ve had a half-read copy of The Evangelical Universalist sitting on my night-stand for two and a half years now, with every intention of finishing the book at some point. The Grapes of Wrath, one-eighth read, joined it last summer. I at least had the honesty to put Theroux Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China back on the bookshelf (but my bookmark remains in place).
Will I read Barth? Yes. Will I read him as much and as quickly as these other guys? No. They’re all probably going on to Ph.D.s. I will be but a humble pastor, slowly turning Barth’s pages as the years go by. But I’m consoled by this: Dr. Chris Holmes, when I spoke to him about CD last year, had only read about 60% of it. So I don’t feel too bad. I will contribute where I can.
But Barth won’t be the only theologian mentioned here, of course. Bonhoeffer will unquestionably come up (I’m looking at you, Jeff and Joel–and I hope to read Ethics again soon), as I’m sure will N.T. Wright and a host of others. “I Heart Barth” is both a literal and symbolic name for the blog.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to this. Hopefully you’ll forgive me for the first post not actually being theological, but it is, after all, introductory. But, to assuage any concerns, I will mention Barth’s (possibly mythical) summary of CD, as told by Chris Holmes:
Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
And, friends, he spends 14 volumes telling us this. Happy reading!
Great intro Marc. Looking forward to our chats. Perhaps you would actually do well some day to just read Barth’s little volume “Dogmatics in Outline”. I’ve actually used it as an aid for teaching through the Apostle’s Creed for my congregation. I find Barth to be increasingly helpful as a pastor, but I also find Bonhoeffer and Wright be likewise helpful…perhaps its the fact that they were all pastors and they were and the last of them IS deeply concerned to do theology from within the Church. I also “heart” Bonhoeffer whom I have been passionately reading since I was twelve. Several years ago I finally broke down and joined the International Bonhoeffer Society (and one of these days I’ll actually make the annual meeting). I’ve read Discipleship four times through (and listened to an audio version over this summer) and read Ethics three times, Life Together, The Prayerbook of the Bible twice and I’m ever so slowly working through some of his more personal writings (and I’m reworking through his Letters and Papers from Prison again). My wife knows that of all the authors and theologians with which I enjoy…I truly heart Bonhoeffer. Perhaps one day soon I’ll actually get to “Act and Being” and finish “Sanctorum Communio” as well, but Joel has beaten me to those :-). And I assure you…if you give Barth a chance…you will heart him too. 🙂
I actually have Dogmatics in Outline! Is it actually what its title suggests it is: an outline of CD? Would it be a useful introduction/segway into CD?
It is a very brief introduction (of sorts) without truly being an introduction to the CD. If that makes sense. It begins with some opening philosophical issues and faith issues and moves then to an exposition of the Apostle’s Creed. The Dogmatics sort of does this, but not in nearly the same way. I guess I would just suggest it as a wonderful intro to a broad view of the beliefs of Barth that are actually (from my perspective) easily adaptable to the pulpit as any good commentary should be.
W. Travis McMaken of DET recommends either Dogmatics in Outline or Evangelical Theology as the first book to read before heading into the Church Dogmatics. He also recommends beginning with II/2 unless intend to read the whole work from cover to cover (which is why I started with that volume). Chris Holmes recommended either this or IV/1 as a good place to start. I think I’ll still begin with I/1, but apparently Barth just keeps getting better. Another useful place to start might be at Ben Myers’s Church Dogmatics in a Week.
Thanks for the nice intro, Marc. Well put. I hope that this blog will serve a double purpose: to help us understand Barth better through mutual learning; and to provide us with incentive to read him! I don’t think he’s the most difficult theologian, although his very German style can sometimes feel a bit cumbersome to the English reader (though no more so than the Germanized English of Torrance). The main difficulty with Barth is the bulk! At 10,000 pages, none of which are ‘fluffy’, CD can be a daunting task at best!