Neo-orthodoxy

Introduction:-

Neo-orthodoxy emerged after World War I, with its origins attributed to Karl Barth's 1919
commentary on Romans. Barth, trained under liberal theologians, found his liberal message
unsuitable for a people ravaged by war. He returned to serious consideration of Scriptures. Emil
Brunner, another early pioneer of neo-orthodoxy, also began writing and teaching during this
time. They led European and American theology into neo-orthodoxy, with notable exponents
including Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and John A. T. Robinson. Neo-orthodoxy emphasizes
the transcendence of God, the limitations of human reason, and the centrality of Christ in
theology. Neo-orthodoxy view of authority for Christian belief and practice in quite different
from those if either liberal Protestantism or conservation protestant orthodoxy. 1

What is neo-orthodoxy?

Neo-orthodoxy was poplarized by two major European theologians, karl Barth and Emil brunner.
Neo-orthodoxy emphasizes the revelation of God Himself as the source and foundation of
Christian beliefs Barth was known for popularizing the idea of revelation being "the Word within
the word" rather than Scripture itself as the focus. Neo-orthodoxy teaches that the Scripture is a
communicator or medium revealing God rather than being revelation by itself. Jesus Himself
rather than Scripture serving as God's Word, Scripture itself teaches that its words are "God-
breathed" or an extension of God Himself. (see Second Timothy 3: 16-17).2

2. Key Theologians

A. Karl Barth

Karl brath known as a founder of neo-orthodoxy He was bron in 1886 in Basel, switerland. Karl
Barth is a Swiss Protestant church father and reformer, played a significant role in the 20th
century in Christian theology. He aimed to rediscover the gospel as the basis of a Christian
theology that transcends the divide between liberalism and conservatism. Barth believed that
liberal theology was captive to modernity by accommodating it, while conservative theology,
particularly fundamentalism, was captive to it by reacting to it. He wished to relatives modernity,
not reject it, and see modernity as a passing fad that would eventually fade away while the Word
of God (Jesus Christ) stands forever. Barth's education in liberal theology did not translate into
meaningful preaching that connected with the lives of the average people of the parish. He
published DerRomerbrief in 1919, setting forth the basic precepts for the neo-orthodox program
of dialectical theology.3
1
PAUL ENNS, THE MOODY HANDBOOK OF THEOLOGYREVISED AND EXPANDED(United States of America:
MOODY,2008)774.
2
https://www.compellingtruth.org/neoorthodoxy.html
3
RO G E R E . OL S O N, TheSTORY of THEOLOGY Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform(USA: InterVarsity
Press,1999)667and668.
Major works of Karl Barth

"The Epistle to the Romans" (1919): Barth's commentary on the Book of Romans is often
considered the starting point of his theological journey. In this work, he critiqued the prevailing
theological trends and presented his early ideas that would later develop into Neo-Orthodoxy.

"The Word of God and the Word of Man" (1924): In this early work, Barth explored the
relationship between divine revelation and human knowledge. He argued for the transcendence
of God's Word over human understanding and language.

"Church Dogmatics" (1932-1967): The major theological work "Church Dogmatic" by Barth
addresses a number of topics related to Christian theology, such as creation, redemption,
spirituality, and the concepts of the Word of God.

The Humanity of God" (1960): In this collection of Gifford Lectures, Barth focused on the
understanding of God's humanity. He discussed the implications of the Incarnation and the
centrality of Jesus Christ in revealing the humanity of God.

"Church and State" (1938): Written during a critical period in Europe, this work addressed the
relationship between the church and political authority. Barth argued for the church's
independence from political control and criticized the dangers of the church aligning too closely
with the state.4

B. Emil Brunner:-

Emil Brunner, along with Karl Barth and Rudolf Bultmann, was a pioneer in the neoorthodox
movement. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, he studied at Berlin and Union Seminary in New York.
Brunner was a prolific writer, completing 396 books and articles, with 23 translated into English.
He was a popular theologian, lecturing widely in Europe, Britain, America, and Japan.

Justifications of Brunner's Theology's Doctrine

Emil Brunner disagreed with Karl Barth, stating that revelation continues in history and
experience, such as the Scriptures, church faith, and the Holy Spirit's inner witness. He believed
that God's revelation is not objectively revealed in the Bible but through a subjective encounter
with Christ, following Martin Buber's I-Thou relationship. Brunner emphasized the importance
of both subject-object for communion with God, rejecting the total depravity of man, inherited
sin nature, and the historicity of Genesis 3. He believed that sin is a choice, not inherited, and
that failure to live in fellowship with God and others is self-centeredness. Brunner also held to
the Chalcedon statement of Jesus' true humanity and deity, emphasizing the incarnation and

4
Alister E. McGrath, HISTORICALTHEOLOGY An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought(UK: Wiley-
Blackwell,2013)200.
resurrection of Christ. He believed that God gave man the freedom to respond to His grace as
revealed in Christ.5

 Theological Emphases:-

Karl barth categorized the word of God into three realms.

 The “Revealed Word” is God revealing Himself by speaking to the apostles and prophets.
 The “Written Word” is the deposit of revelation made by man. Becauseman wrote the
Bible it cannot be equated with the Word of God.
 The“Preached Word” is the proclamation of the Word, and when the grace ofGod breaks
through to the individual, then the Bible becomes the Word of God.

Barth used the Bible as the basis for his extensive studies Dogmatics rather than liberal
philosophy because he regarded the Bible seriously. But according to him, truths are
discovered through God's revelation of Himself in Christ, not through theological statements.

Barth argued that general revelation in nature cannot reveal God to man, focusing on Jesus
Christ as the event of revelation. He believed that God the Father revealed Himself in Christ,
the Son fulfilled the ordinance, and the Holy Spirit completed the revelation of
God. Revelation continues today as the coming of God's word to man, but it is considered a
revelation only when man recognizes and accepts it. Barth rejected progressive revelation
and believed that revelation was through the atonement in Christ..

 Theology proper
Karl barth was mainly influenced by john calvin and also other reformers; hence, Barth
stressed the sovereignty of God. God is wholly other, and men can anly know God
through His self-disclosure to men.
Barth emphasized the election of Christ, rejecting universalism. He argued that all
individuals are elect in Christ, but rejected universalism. God elected Christ, and through
Him, man is reconciled to God, including those who do not believe.

5
Paul Enns, THE MOODY HANDBOOK,281and282