Freedom under the Word: Karl Barth's Theological Exegesis

Freedom under the Word: Karl Barth's Theological Exegesis is a collection of essays by various scholars who critically engage with Barth's interpretation of Christian Scripture and its implications for contemporary hermeneutics and biblical studies. The book covers Barth's career chronologically, from his early commentaries on Romans and Ephesians to his mature dogmatics on the doctrines of God, creation, and reconciliation. The contributors explore how Barth's theological exegesis is shaped by his Christocentric approach, his dialectical method, his ecclesial context, and his ethical concerns. The book also highlights some of the rare texts from the Barth corpus, such as his lectures on James, Isaiah, and Revelation, and his exegesis of Genesis 2:8-17 and Hebrews 11. Some examples of the topics discussed in the book are Barth's rewriting of Romans in light of the First World War, Barth's relation to the historical-critical method of biblical scholarship, Barth's use of the Johannine prologue to articulate his doctrine of God, Barth's understanding of Israel and the church in Romans 9-11, and Barth's eschatological vision in Revelation 4-5. The book aims to show the legacy and potential of Barth's theology for contemporary hermeneutics and biblical interpretation, as well as to stimulate further dialogue between Barth scholars and biblical scholars.