Abstract
This essay explores the relationship between the doctrine of God and the theme of prayer in the theology of Karl Barth, with particular reference to the way in which Barth construes the event of prayer as lying at the heart of the covenant friendship between God and human beings. In a first section, the essay considers the way in which prayer is treated at various points within Barth's doctrine of God. In a second section, the essay turns to later texts in the Church Dogmatics that deal extensively with prayer, and takes detailed soundings from the doctrine of providence and the teaching on prayer itself. Barth's later material on prayer is seen both to continue and to develop the material from his earlier doctrine of God. In the conclusion, brief remarks are offered regarding the radical nature and relevance of Barth's understanding of the relationship between the doctrine of God and the theme of prayer, and two unresolved issues that need further exploration in this context are identified.
| Translated title of the contribution | "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears": Covenant Friendship and Karl Barth's Doctrine of God |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Title of host publication | Gotteserschütterung – Gottesvergewisserung |
| Subtitle of host publication | Die Gegenwartsrelevanz der Gotteslehre Karl Barths |
| Editors | Gregor Etzelmüller, Georg Plasger |
| Publisher | TVZ Theologischer Verlag |
| Pages | 85-103 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-290-18439-1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-3290184384 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |