4. The Unity of the Word of God This short section is a summary just longer than one published page, supplemented by a long bibliographical excursus which indicates the historical doctrinal sources for Barth's doctrine of the threefold form of the Word of God. The Word of God is "is one and the same whether … Continue reading I/1 § 4: The Word of God in its Threefold Form

3. The Revealed Word of God What is the relationship between the forms of the Word of God: proclamation, Scripture, and revelation?  "The Bible is the concrete means by which the Church recollects God's past revelation, is called to expectation of His future revelation, and is thus summoned and guided to proclamation and empowered for … Continue reading I/1 § 4: The Word of God in its Threefold Form

2. The Written Word of God. The "written Word of God" is a topic much closer to the root of Protestant Christian identity, and as such most of Barth's comments here seem to be written with Protestant disputes in mind. But he does not begin with Protestants, but again with a Catholic understanding, since the … Continue reading I/1 § 4: The Word of God in its Threefold Form

Concluding Excursus to 1. The Word of God as Preached: Apostolic Succession Barth's concluding excursus to the first section of §4 is really an article in its own right, and deserves careful reading. Barth's point of departure if Adolf von Harnack's essay Christus praesens--Vicarius Christi, published in 1927. (For full citation see I/1/106.)  Barth not … Continue reading I/1 § 4 : The Word of God in its Threefold Form

1. The Word of God as Preached In §§ 2 and 3 Barth set out some of the formal disciplinary boundaries for understanding the teaching of the Church, and the task of dogmatics to reflect upon its message and mission self-critically.  He only touched upon the real content of church proclamation, however, since his subject … Continue reading I/1 § 4 : The Word of God in its Threefold Form