Barth on the Descent into Hell: God, Atonement and the Christian Life

by Lauber,David

• ISBN13: 9780754633419
• ISBN10: 0754633411
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The Christian confession that Jesus Christ descended into hell has been variously misunderstood or simply neglected by the Church and dogmatic theology. This work is a significant retort to dogmatic forgetfulness and ecclesial misunderstanding. It succeeds in doing so by offering a close reading and critical analysis of Karl Barth's treatment of the descent into hell and its relation to his extraordinary theology of the atonement. The reach of David Lauber's work is extended by placing Barth in conversation with Hans Urs von Balthasar's innovative theology of Holy Saturday. In revealing and unexpected ways, this book casts light upon the ecumenical breadth of Barth's theology. It is a valuable interpretation of significant facets of Barth's doctrine of God, reflection upon the passion of Jesus Christ, and ethics. In addition, Lauber offers a constructive theological proposal for how the descent into hell affects the theological interpretation of Scripture, the trinitarian being and activity of God, and the non-violent and authentic shape of Christian life and witness before our enemies.

Author Biography

David Lauber is Assistant Professor of Theology at Wheaton College, Illinois, USA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Permissions	viii
Abbreviations	ix
Karl Barth: Jesus Christ's death in God-abandonment as the descent into hell	1	(41)
Barth's reflection on the Apostles' Creed	5	(5)
Barth and the reformed tradition	10	(2)
The significance of Jesus Christ's death as grounded in the doctrine of God	12	(9)
Jesus Christ dies the second death	21	(6)
The death of Jesus Christ as the experience of hell in Barth's `Doctrine of Reconciliation' - Church Dogmatics IV	27	(15)
Hans Urs von Balthasar and a theology of Holy Saturday	42	(34)
Adrienne von Speyr's gift and Heart of the World	43	(5)
The shape of Balthasar's soteriology	48	(7)
Balthasar's dramatic soteriology	55	(10)
The descent into hell	65	(11)
The biblical character of the descent into hell	76	(37)
A biblical basis for the descent into hell?	76	(1)
Scripture and Barth's interpretation of the descent into hell	77	(5)
Scripture and Balthasar's interpretation of the descent into hell	82	(5)
Interpretative and theological decisions	87	(6)
Barth and Balthasar on the construction of atonement doctrine	93	(6)
Balthasar's extension of the biblical narrative	99	(11)
Conclusion: the descent into hell and scripture	110	(3)
The descent into hell and the Trinity	113	(40)
Jurgen Moltmann's theology of the cross and the descent into hell	113	(2)
Interpretations of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane	115	(4)
Jesus Christ's death and descent into hell and change in the life of God	119	(5)
The descent into hell and God's love	124	(7)
The descent into hell and the immanent and economic Trinity	131	(7)
The descent into hell and divine suffering	138	(7)
Alan Lewis' Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday	145	(4)
Conclusion: the descent into hell and the Trinity	149	(4)
The descent into hell and discipleship	153	(26)
God's love as non-violent enemy-love and the shape of discipleship	153	(9)
The descent into hell and the ethic of non-violent enemy-love	162	(14)
Conclusion: the descent into hell, Christian love and discipleship	176	(3)
Bibliography	179	(3)
Index	182