Acknowledgements Foreword Abbreviations Chapter I: Introduction: The Life and Work of Karl Barth Chapter II: The Doctrine of the Word of God Chapter III: The Doctrine of God Chapter IV: The Doctrine of Creation Chapter V: The Doctrine of Reconciliation - I Chapter VI: The Doctrine of Reconciliation - II Chapter VII: Theological Ethics Chapter VIII: Conclusion Further Reading Index
An upper-level introduction to the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century by one of the leading young Barth scholars.
Paul T. Nimmo is King's Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen, UK.
Karl Barth: A Guide for the Perplexed is an excellent introduction
to Barth’s work for those who may be daunted by the scope of his
writing, as well as a handy reference for further study. However,
only to read even this most artful summary is to miss the power of
Barth’s thought. Use this book not as a replacement for the Church
Dogmatics, but as a springboard into the text itself, where
innumerable delights and wonders await you.
*Anglican Theological Review*
Nimmo has given us an extremely well written and scholarly book in
order to help us to understand a theologian of great magnitude. As
a short book, it provides one of the best-summarized treatments of
Barth and his thought that is currently published. Nimmo is careful
to ground his explanation of Barth’s theology in its proper
historical context.
*Pacific Journal of Baptist Research*
This is a sure-footed, careful, and deeply sympathetic guide to
Barth’s theology. Anyone new to Barth will find an invaluable
starting point in Nimmo’s account of the content (and also the
style and structure) of Church Dogmatics. Seasoned Barth scholars
will recognize the depth of knowledge behind Nimmo’s skillful
summary, and the deft, balanced way that he touches on
controversial issues. Here is a book to which anyone can turn for a
trustworthy and accessible overview of the magnum opus of one of
the most influential theologians of the 20th century.
*Suzanne McDonald, Western Theological Seminary, USA*
Paul Nimmo’s book is a gift to readers of Karl Barth’s Church
Dogmatics. His clear and judicious exposition of Barth’s great
work, combined with reliable and illuminating commentary on each
section, provides an unusually helpful introduction to Barth’s
magnum opus.
*Adam Neder, Whitworth University, USA*
Paul Nimmo delivers a wonderfully compact and accessible
introduction to Karl Barth’s thought in all its scope. He lays out
the structure of the Church Dogmatics and the doctrine of
reconciliation in accessible schemes, and his commentary on Barth’s
treatment of classical theological doctrine speaks directly to
contemporary readers. This will be my go-to text for students and
pastors looking to gain a foothold in understanding the depth and
breadth of Barth’s theology.
*Amy Marga, Luther Seminary, USA*
Paul Nimmo has provided us with a truly magnificent introduction to
Karl Barth that will serve students for decades to come. The
highlight is Nimmo’s brilliant summary of the central arguments and
underlying logic of Barth’s Church Dogmatics. This clear, concise,
and charitable account is complemented by incisive commentary that
takes the reader again and again to the heart of the matter. One
can hardly imagine a better introduction to place in the hands of a
new reader of Barth’s theology.
*Keith L. Johnson, Wheaton College, USA*
Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics is an intricate, dialectic, symphonic
work of staggering length, nuance, and insight. And yet, the
complexity of the Church Dogmatics and the ever increasing volume
of secondary literature makes reading, teaching, and engaging Barth
with nuance and precision a daunting task. Like a master teacher,
Paul Nimmo’s Barth: A Guide for the Perplexed offers a clear and
lucid introduction to the structure, theological arguments, and
dialectic of Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics. In addition to guiding
students, ministers, teachers and scholars through the complex
theological terrain of Barth’s magnum opus, Nimmo regularly
presents insightful and penetrating analysis on Barth’s thinking
and its place in the history and ongoing work of theological
reflection. There is simply no better introduction to Barth’s
Church Dogmatics than Nimmo’s book and I anticipate it will become
a standard in classrooms and studies alike.
*Joshua Ralston, University of Edinburgh, UK*
Paul Nimmo’s book bears the hallmarks of Barth scholarship at its
best: a keen eye for detail, an appreciation of Barth’s willingness
to rethink and recast established doctrinal loci, and — to my mind
most importantly — a keen interest in Barth’s significance for
constructive reflection today. Readers familiar with the Dogmatics
will benefit from Nimmo’s even-handed and careful analysis; those
who are new to Barth’s masterpiece will find in Nimmo an exemplary
guide.
*Paul Dafydd Jones, University of Virginia, USA*
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