Tag Archives: karl barth

Notes on Church Dogmatics I/2

Posted on November 13, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

19, chapter 1 deals with Scripture as a witness to God’s revelation.   Resisting the urge to attack Barth because he “doesn’t believe the Bible is the Word of God,” let’s actually see what he is saying and what it means … Continue reading →

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Karl Barth: Church Dogmatics II/1 (Doctrine of God), review

Posted on November 12, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Barth’s volume is largely divided into two parts:  Our knowledge of God’s Revelation and God Himself. Per the latter, he famously rephrases the attributes of God as God’s perfections (more on that later).  This review will give a (very short) … Continue reading →

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Person of Jesus Christ (Hugh Ross Mackintosh)

Posted on November 5, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Mackintosh, Hugh Ross.  Person of Jesus Christ.  T & T Clark. Mackintosh gives us a fine little devotional tract geared (if not always directly) around the full self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Theme: In Christ there is a perfect revelation … Continue reading →

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Systematic Theology, volume 2 (Wolfhart Pannenberg)

Posted on November 4, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Review: Pannenberg, Wolfhart.  Systematic Theology volume 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991. Translated by Geoffrey Bromiley. (His name is pronounced “Volf-hart,” not “Wolf-Heart.”  He is not a character in a Twilight fan fiction). What would a Christology from below look like if it were … Continue reading →

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Pannenberg, Systematic Theology (Vol. 1)

Posted on October 20, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Some important sections. Largely eclipsed by his student Robert W. Jenson. Outstanding remarks on the Vincentian canon, the spirituality of God, and Gregory Palamas. He gives critical reflection on the Cappadocian fathers. Evaluation: Hard to recommend to most students and … Continue reading →

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Bonds of Imperfection (O’Donovan and O’Donovan)

Posted on July 28, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

O’Donovans, Oliver and Joan Lockwood. Bonds of Imperfection: Christian Politics Past and Present.  Eerdmans, 2007. I’ve read this book more than any other book over the past eleven years.  Each essays is a Master’s course in social ethics.  With all the … Continue reading →

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Review: Orthodoxy and Esotericism (Kelley)

Posted on February 3, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

My friend James Kelley gave me a complimentary copy. It is common parlance to say, “We should apply our faith to culture.”  In such slogans the words “faith” and “culture” are never defined and always used in the most abstract … Continue reading →

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Review: Retrieving Doctrine (Crisp)

Posted on December 20, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver.  Retrieving Doctrine: Essays in Reformed Theology. Crisp highlights key (but often marginalized) ideas from several Reformed thinkers.  He is “retrieving” aspects of doctrine that aren’t usually talked about.  He analyzes Calvin on Creation, Providence and Prayer; Edwards on Original … Continue reading →

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Outline of God, Revelation, Authority (vol 5)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

By Carl F Henry. The first four volumes dealt with epistemology.  The final two deal with ontology and the doctrine of God. “God who stands” = personal sovereign containing in himself the ground of his own existence. “God who stays” … Continue reading →

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On not being a Barthian

Posted on April 2, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

I get asked this every now and then.  I’m not a Barthian.  The most notable problem is his view of Scripture (at least that’s what alarms evangelicals the most).  Thomas McCall gives a fine presentation and critique of Barth’s view … Continue reading →

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