God's eternal election in the theology of Karl Barth
This study aims to clarify some vital characteristics of Karl Barth's doctrine of election (<I>Church Dogmatics, </I>vol. 2, part 2). It first examines the charge of universalism against Barth's doctrine of election. That Barth neither accepts nor refuses universalism produces two apparently contradictory interpretations: predeterminism (universal and past election) and personalism (individual and present election). This contradictory feature requires the investigation of Barth's doctrine of time and eternity, which ultimately comprises two significant statements: (1) the triune being of God is the ultimate foundation of time, and (2), in Jesus Christ, time is qualified objectively as turning, and subjectively as the chance to respond to God. The first statement brings about two consequences: (1) the revelation in Jesus Christ is substantially identical with the pre-temporal election, (2) theology is conditioned by God and predestination. They result in the revised view of the causal scheme of thought, in which cause (predestination) precedes, as well as materially predominates and accompanies, history. The second statement brings about four consequences: (1) time's objective qualification signifies the temporal
Kojiro, Masami
Philosophy
God's eternal election in the theology of Karl Barth. This study aims to clarify some vital characteristics of Karl Barth's doctrine of election (<I>Church Dogmatics, </I>vol. 2, part 2). It first examines the charge of universalism against Barth's doctrine of election. That Barth neither accepts nor refuses universalism produces two apparently contradictory interpretations: predeterminism (universal and past election) and personalism (individual and present election). This contradictory feature requires the investigation of Barth's doctrine of time and eternity, which ultimately comprises two significant statements: (1) the triune being of God is the ultimate foundation of time, and (2), in Jesus Christ, time is qualified objectively as turning, and subjectively as the chance to respond to God. The first statement brings about two consequences: (1) the revelation in Jesus Christ is substantially identical with the pre-temporal election, (2) theology is conditioned by God and predestination. They result in the revised view of the causal scheme of thought, in which cause (predestination) precedes, as well as materially predominates and accompanies, history. The second statement brings about four consequences: (1) time's objective qualification signifies the temporal
god eternal election theology karl_barth study aim_clarify vital characteristic karl_barth doctrine election church dogmatics part first_examine charge universalism barth doctrine election barth neither accepts refuse universalism produce two_apparently contradictory interpretation universal past election personalism individual present election contradictory feature require investigation barth doctrine time eternity ultimately comprise_two significant statement triune_god ultimate foundation time jesus_christ time qualify objectively turn chance respond god first statement bring consequence revelation jesus_christ substantially identical pre temporal election theology condition god predestination revise view causal scheme think cause predestination precedes well materially predominate history second statement bring consequence time objective qualification signifies temporal