Exegesis

This chapter examines the role and character of scriptural exegesis in Barth’s theology. The interpretation and exposition of the biblical texts was not of merely incidental or sporadic interest to Barth. On the contrary, scriptural exegesis was a fundamental and pervasive feature of both his pastoral and his academic activity, which remains inexplicable apart from attention to its exegetical coordinates. Study of Barth’s exegesis involves attending to three topics: his conception of the nature and authority of scripture; his portrayal of the grounds, tasks, and ends of scriptural interpretation; and his concrete exegetical practices and proposals. Engaging a selection of Barth’s writings from his Safenwil pastorate through the first volume of the Church Dogmatics, this chapter outlines some major features of Barth’s doctrine of scripture and theology of scriptural interpretation, observes the capacity of his exegesis to provoke strong critical reaction, and identifies opportunities for further research.