The church is not bound to some natural law, but to its living Lord. Therefore it never thinks, speaks, and acts 'on principle.' Rather, it judges spiritually, and therefore case by case.

Karl Barth (1886–1968), Theologe

Topics: Church & Congregation, Wisdom & Understanding

Occasions: For Reflection

Karl Barth

Der Schweizer evangelisch-reformierte Theologe Karl Barth (1886–1968) wirkte als Gemeindepfarrer im Aargau sowie als Universitätsprofessor in Deutschland und Basel. Als Mitbegründer der Dialektischen Theologie und Vordenker der Bekennenden Kirche wandte er sich gegen die liberale Kulturtheologie und verfasste maßgeblich die Barmer Theologische Erklärung von 1934. Für Bibelleser bleibt seine radikale Konzentration auf Gottes Selbstoffenbarung in Jesus Christus prägend, während seine theologische Haltung zur Erwählungslehre und seine jahrzehntelange Dreiecksbeziehung im eigenen Haushalt bis heute diskutiert werden.

All quotes by Karl Barth (45)

More on this topic

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.

Tim Keller

The Church is not a cultural club, but the family of Jesus.

Pope Francis

The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.

John Charles Ryle

In essential unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all this charity.

Rupertus Meldenius

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.

Henry Ward Beecher

I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned because I found grace nowhere else.

Philip Yancey

There is no perfect church. And besides, dear friend, if you ever found a perfect church, it would refuse to take you in. For as soon as it had taken you in, it would cease to be perfect. So your search is entirely useless.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In a congregation, every person must be able to be as their heart truly is.

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

All quotes · lumen.bible

lumen.bible