The Early Barth - Lectures and Shorter Works: Volume 2, 1909-1914

The Early Barth series spotlights the theological restlessness of a thinker on the cusp of reshaping twentieth-century Christian thought.

Karl Barth was the most influential theologian of the twentieth century, and his work continues to inspire both fresh theological thinking and critical debate. The period covered by the volumes in the Early Barth series―1905 to 1933―saw Barth emerge from his training under such theological giants as Adolf von Harnack and Wilhelm Herrmann; assert his rejection of liberal Protestant theology in his towering commentary on Romans; and work through an earlier uncertainty to become a critic on theological grounds of the rise of Nazism. These volumes contain English translations of essays, lectures, academic papers, correspondences, editorials, and other writings that were not previously translated into English, and they provide insight into the development of Barth’s theology during this crucial period of his life.

Volume 2 of The Early Barth―Lectures and Shorter Works covers the period in Barth’s career when he served as a pastor, first in Geneva and then in Safenwil, Swizerland, and up through the point where his theology takes a decisive turn in response to the outbreak of the First World War. It includes substantive footnotes offering historical context and comparative documents, as well as annotations at the beginning of each writing, providing background information that contextualizes the Barth piece, Barth’s purpose for writing it, his approach and sources, its reception, and more.

The works by Barth in this volume include:

• Reformation (1909)
• Review of E. Schrenk, Seelsorgerliche Briefe für allerlei Leute (1909)
• Did Jesus Live? A Retrospective Easter Meditation (1910)
• Survey of Protestant Mission (1910)
• Biographical Sketches from the History of the Christian Religion (1910)
• Ideas and Thoughts on Philosophy of Religion (1910)
• Spittler, Christian Friedrich (1910)
• Stockmeyer, Immanuel (1910)
• The Christian Faith and History (1910)
• Something about the Church: Especially about the German Reformed Church in Geneva and What to Make of It (1910)
• Monsieur Tout le Monde (1910/11)
• Modern Pastoral Care and Its Psychological and Religious Foundations (1910/11)
• Gerhard Tersteegen [Essay] (1910)
• God Disposes, but Humans Should Still Propose! From Calvin’s Institutes (1559) (1911)
• John Mott and the Student Christian Movement (1911)
• Novalis [Essay] (1911)
• The Reemergence of Metaphysics in Theology (1911)
• Human Rights and Civic Duty (1911)
• Jesus Christ and the Social Movement (1911)
• Answer to the Open Letter of Mr. W. Hüssy in Aarburg, W. Hüssy, Open Letter to Mr. Karl Barth, Pastor in Safenwil
• Religion and Science (1912)
• Review of Karl Heim, Das Gewissheitsproblem in der systematischen Theologie bis zu Schleiermacher (1912)
• Objection regarding Military Aircraft (1913)
• Socrates (1913)
• The Workers’ Question (1913/1914)
• Reformation in Bern (1913/14)
• Aargau Reformed Church Synod [I] (1913)
• The Blessing of a Christian Home (1913)
• Gospel and Socialism (1914)

Karl Barth (1886–1968) was a pastor, an outspoken critic of the rise of the Nazi Party, and Professor of Theology at the University of Basel, Switzerland.