The Word of God and Theology (2nd ed)

This classic volume of Barth's essays was first published in 1924 under the title 'Das Wort Gottes und die Theologie'.

The first English edition appeared in 1928 with SCM in the UK and, in 1957, with Harper in the US.

It sold a huge number of copies, and was reprinted several times.

However, the translation was poor and copies of the book have become scarece.

It is not a scholarly edition: there are no footnotes or index.

Now there is a new German critical edition with a critical footnote apparatus identifying the sources of texts Barth only alluded to.

The new English edition not only targets a general audience, but also Barth scholars internationally whose access to these important materials has been hampered by inadequate mastery of German.

All the critical apparatus will be translated, each chapter including an explanatory passage giving general historical context and details of Barth's own biography.

An introductory chapter pulls the whole project together.

These essays represent the very best of Barth's work.

Far from being superseded by the Church Dogmatics, indeed, a thorough understanding of the Church Dogmatics must presuppose a close knowledge of them.The style is vivid, deeply engaged and engaging, often expressionistic (making frequent use of irony and hyperbole).

Peter Gay described Welmar culture as a 'dance on the edge of a volcano.' If so, then it was essays like these that provided the music.