Spring 2015 / Fuller Live!

Seattle and Sacramento

ST530

Sumner

ST530: KARL BARTH AND EVANGELICALISM (4 Units: 160 hours). Darren Sumner.

DESCRIPTION: This course examines the life and theology of Karl Barth, one of the most significant and influential theologians of the twentieth century. Students will explore the major themes of Barth’s theology and read primary texts in the doctrine of God, Christology, humanity and sin, revelation, “natural” theology, the church, and other major loci. Barth’s formative social, political, and ecclesial context will also be considered. Finally, the course will consider the reception of Barth’s thought among British and North American evangelicals, and evaluate a number of leading criticisms.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete ST530 will demonstrate: (1) a basic knowledge of Karl Barth’s life and his place in modern Christian theology; (2) knowledge of the content of Barth’s theology, including its major themes and priorities, as well as the contents and structure of the Church Dogmatics; (3) an understanding of Barth’s theological method and how this contrasts with other ways of approaching the task of theology; and (4) a critical understanding of the ways in which Barth’s thought has been received among English-speaking evangelicals, as well as the continuing relevance that Barth’s thought holds for evangelical theology and ministry in the twenty-first century.

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets three hours weekly for ten weeks, for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction including a combination of lecture and seminar-style discussion of assigned texts, plus 10 hours of directed learning activities including online reflection exercises for a total of 40 instructional hours. (This is a Fuller Live! course, and the Professor will teach via Polycom primarily in Seattle but will travel at least once to Sacramento.)

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1,050 pages in total.

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics Vol. IV/1, Sections 57-59 (Study Edition #21, or any edition of IV/1). T&T Clark, 2010. ISBN: 978-0567587107, Pub. Price $39.95 [350 pp. assigned].

Busch, Eberhard. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth’s Theology. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802866547, Pub. Price $32.00 [290 pp. assigned].

Other selected readings to be made available weekly via e-Reserves.

Choose ONE of either:

Gibson, David and Daniel Strange (eds.). Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques. T&T Clark, 2009. ISBN: 978-0567442963, Pub. Price $42.95. [408 pp.].

- or:

McCormack, Bruce L. and Clifford B. Anderson (eds.). Karl Barth and American Evangelicalism. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978- 0802866561, Pub. price $38.00. [400 pp.].