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Divine Wisdom as Judgment
Reading Biblical Wisdom with Karl Barth
Series: - Studies in Systematic Theology, Volume: 28
Author:
Divine Wisdom as Judgment insists that because the place we come to know Godâs wisdom is in Godâs overturning of human wisdom on the cross, the only possible wisdom that remains open to us is faith in this Judge. With attention to a neglected portion of Karl Barthâs corpus, the repair of a widespread misperception about the incompatibility between Barth and biblical wisdom, and exegesis of Paulâs apocalyptic gospel, this book enters discussion with one of contemporary theologyâs most ubiquitous themes.
Kyle McCracken, Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, is Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at the Greek Bible College in Athens, Greece.
âThis manuscript offers an original and insightful focus on Godâs wisdom, engaging meaningfully with contemporary theological proposals. It represents a significant contribution both to Barth studies and to broader reflections on the role of wisdom in Christian theology.â â Christophe Chalamet, Theological Faculty, University of Geneva
âThis carefully argued work makes the case that divine judgment lies at the heart of divine wisdom, understood through the cross of Christ. After appreciative but critical engagement with some recent and contemporary wisdom theologians, it enters into sustained dialogue with Karl Barth, offering a defence of his theology of divine wisdom and judgment, developed through close engagement with Proverbs and 1 Corinthians 1â2. The upshot is a scripturally fleshed out vision with significant contemporary purchase.â â Professor Susannah Ticciati, Kingâs College London
"McCrackenâs fine study of divine wisdom in the work of Karl Barth benefits from his detailed and insightful engagement with recent systematic theological accounts of wisdom as well as contemporary exegesis of the wisdom literature itself. The result is a well-argued and compelling enquiry that demonstrates both the importance of the theme in Barthâs theology and the distinctiveness of its handling there. Drawing Barthâs provocative contribution on this theme back into the contemporary conversation in this way is an invaluable service to the field." - Philip G. Ziegler, University of Aberdeen
âThis carefully argued work makes the case that divine judgment lies at the heart of divine wisdom, understood through the cross of Christ. After appreciative but critical engagement with some recent and contemporary wisdom theologians, it enters into sustained dialogue with Karl Barth, offering a defence of his theology of divine wisdom and judgment, developed through close engagement with Proverbs and 1 Corinthians 1â2. The upshot is a scripturally fleshed out vision with significant contemporary purchase.â â Professor Susannah Ticciati, Kingâs College London
"McCrackenâs fine study of divine wisdom in the work of Karl Barth benefits from his detailed and insightful engagement with recent systematic theological accounts of wisdom as well as contemporary exegesis of the wisdom literature itself. The result is a well-argued and compelling enquiry that demonstrates both the importance of the theme in Barthâs theology and the distinctiveness of its handling there. Drawing Barthâs provocative contribution on this theme back into the contemporary conversation in this way is an invaluable service to the field." - Philip G. Ziegler, University of Aberdeen
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1âWhy Wisdom?
â2âWhy Barth?
â3âNarrowing Our Scope
â4âOutline
âIntroduction to Part 1
2 The Three Wise Men
â1âIntroduction
â2âDavid Ford: Christian Wisdom
â3âDavid Kelsey: Eccentric Existence
â4âPaul Fiddes: Seeing the World and Knowing God
â5âConcluding Remarks
3 Wisdom in Feminist Theologies
â1âIntroduction
â2âElizabeth Johnson: She Who Is
â3âElisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza: Jesus: Miriamâs Child, Sophiaâs Prophet
â4âMary Grey: the Wisdom of Fools?: Seeking Revelation for Today
â5âConcluding Remarks
âIntroduction to Part 2
4 Divine Wisdom as Twofold Justification in Church Dogmatics II.1
â1âIntroduction
â2âBarthâs Key Points in His Justification-Shaped Doctrine of Divine Wisdom
â3âThe Perfections of God in Barthâs Theology
â4âDivine Wisdom as Self-Justifying and Justifying Sinners
5 Barthâs Use of the Biblical Wisdom Literature
6 Barthâs Mature Account of Wisdom in Church Dogmatics IV.3
â1âJob in the Context of CD IV.3
â2âDivine and Human Freedom in Job
â3âThe Identity of God in Job
â4âJustification in Job
â5âConcluding Remarks
âIntroduction to Part 3
7 Barth, Wisdom Studies, and Natural Theology
â1âIntroduction
â2âBarth and Wisdom Studies
â3âBarth and Natural Theology
8 The Divine Judge in the Book of Proverbs
â1âIntroduction
â2âThe Doctrine of the Judge Who Rewards and Punishes
â3âThe Fear of Yahweh the Judge
â4âThe Doctrine of the Just Creator
â5âConcluding Remarks
9 Divine Predication and Justification in 1 Corinthians 1â2
â1âIntroduction
â2âOn Barth and 1 Corinthians 1â2
â3âThe Doctrine of God in Paul
â4âJustification in 1 Corinthians 1â2
10 Reading 1 Corinthians 1â2 âApocalypticallyâ
â1âDefining âApocalypticâ
â2âGodâs Apocalypsed Wisdom âat the Turn of the Agesâ
â3ââWisdomâ under Judgment in Corinthian and Cosmic Context
â4âNaming Godâs Wisdom
â5âPossessing Godâs Wisdom? The âProblemâ of 2:6â16
â6âExcursus: Wisdom and âParticularityâ
â7âExcursus: Union with Christ
â8âConcluding Remarks
11 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1âWhy Wisdom?
â2âWhy Barth?
â3âNarrowing Our Scope
â4âOutline
part 1: Wisdom in Contemporary Theology
âIntroduction to Part 1
2 The Three Wise Men
â1âIntroduction
â2âDavid Ford: Christian Wisdom
â3âDavid Kelsey: Eccentric Existence
â4âPaul Fiddes: Seeing the World and Knowing God
â5âConcluding Remarks
3 Wisdom in Feminist Theologies
â1âIntroduction
â2âElizabeth Johnson: She Who Is
â3âElisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza: Jesus: Miriamâs Child, Sophiaâs Prophet
â4âMary Grey: the Wisdom of Fools?: Seeking Revelation for Today
â5âConcluding Remarks
part 2: Karl Barthâs Doctrine of Divine Wisdom
âIntroduction to Part 2
4 Divine Wisdom as Twofold Justification in Church Dogmatics II.1
â1âIntroduction
â2âBarthâs Key Points in His Justification-Shaped Doctrine of Divine Wisdom
â3âThe Perfections of God in Barthâs Theology
â4âDivine Wisdom as Self-Justifying and Justifying Sinners
5 Barthâs Use of the Biblical Wisdom Literature
6 Barthâs Mature Account of Wisdom in Church Dogmatics IV.3
â1âJob in the Context of CD IV.3
â2âDivine and Human Freedom in Job
â3âThe Identity of God in Job
â4âJustification in Job
â5âConcluding Remarks
part 3: Wisdom in Scripture: Testing Barthâs Reading
âIntroduction to Part 3
7 Barth, Wisdom Studies, and Natural Theology
â1âIntroduction
â2âBarth and Wisdom Studies
â3âBarth and Natural Theology
8 The Divine Judge in the Book of Proverbs
â1âIntroduction
â2âThe Doctrine of the Judge Who Rewards and Punishes
â3âThe Fear of Yahweh the Judge
â4âThe Doctrine of the Just Creator
â5âConcluding Remarks
9 Divine Predication and Justification in 1 Corinthians 1â2
â1âIntroduction
â2âOn Barth and 1 Corinthians 1â2
â3âThe Doctrine of God in Paul
â4âJustification in 1 Corinthians 1â2
10 Reading 1 Corinthians 1â2 âApocalypticallyâ
â1âDefining âApocalypticâ
â2âGodâs Apocalypsed Wisdom âat the Turn of the Agesâ
â3ââWisdomâ under Judgment in Corinthian and Cosmic Context
â4âNaming Godâs Wisdom
â5âPossessing Godâs Wisdom? The âProblemâ of 2:6â16
â6âExcursus: Wisdom and âParticularityâ
â7âExcursus: Union with Christ
â8âConcluding Remarks
11 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
This book will be of interest to anyone interested in the theme of theological wisdom, the theology of biblical wisdom, or the theology of Karl Barth.