When and where was Karl Barth born?
Karl Barth was born on the 10th of May 1886 in Basel, Switzerland. His father Johann Friedrich Barth served as a theology professor and pastor at the University of Berne.
Questions about Karl Barth
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major work did Karl Barth publish in 1921 that broke from liberal theology?
The second edition of The Epistle to the Romans published in 1921 marked an open break from liberal theology. He first wrote this commentary during the summer of 1916 while serving as a pastor in Safenwil.
Why did Karl Barth refuse to swear an oath to Adolf Hitler in 1935?
Karl Barth refused to swear an oath to Adolf Hitler alongside Kurt von Fritz because he believed the Church's allegiance to Jesus Christ should resist other lords like the German state. Only two professors refused to take the oath before his professorship at the University of Bonn ended.
How many volumes does Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics contain and when were they published?
Church Dogmatics runs to over six million words spanning 9,000 pages across five planned volumes with the final parts reaching publication in 1967. The fifth volume covering Redemption remained unfinished and the fourth volume's final part-volume also remained incomplete.
Who was Charlotte von Kirschbaum and what role did she play in Karl Barth's life?
Charlotte von Kirschbaum served as Karl Barth's theological academic colleague for more than three decades and lived in the family home for 37 years playing a large role in writing Church Dogmatics. She died in 1975 and Nelly buried her in the family tomb.