Ecclesial Mediation in Karl Barth FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ecclesial Mediation in Karl Barth deals with one of the most important and controversial themes in Barth's theology, the relation between divine and human action. John Yocum argues that Barth's late rejection of the concept of sacrament, explicated in the final volume of his Church Dogmatics, is not only at odds with his account of the nature and importance of sacraments presented earlier in the Church Dogmatics but subverts important elements of his theology as a whole, especially the mediation of divine grace in preaching and the Bible. Bringing Barth into fruitful dialogue with Yves Congar, Yocum contends that the notion of sacrament is crucial to an account of the divine-human relation that respects the character of both agents.
SYNOPSIS
Though Barth's (1886-1968) account of ecclesial mediation in Church Dogmatics IV/4 fails to convince and is deeply flawed, Yocum (theology, U. of Oxford) says its very idiosyncrasy forces him to re-engage the meaning of sacraments, and the significance of ecclesial mediation of God's grace in general. He analyzes and evaluates Barth's treatment in light of his rejection of the concept of sacrament, and places his shift in sacramental doctrine within the context of his convictions and interests. The study is revised and slightly expanded from his doctoral thesis for Oxford University. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
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