Karl Barth and Catholic Theology: Does Barth Undo the Deep Grammar of Nicene Faith?

Abstract

This article explores Bruce Marshall's objections to Barth's doctrine of God and his view of salvation. Whereas Marshall's key objection to Barth's doctrine of God centers on his view that “Barth equates who God is with what God does” and that this assertion, when carried out consistently, “undoes the deep grammar of the Nicene faith—the Catholic faith,” I demonstrate that Marshall has misread Barth by assuming that he has collapsed the immanent Trinity into the economic Trinity. Marshall thinks that for Barth, “God simply has no being other than his being for us.” I explain that Barth always made a key distinction between the eternal self-sufficient being and act of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and his free and loving actions toward us in the economy.