Synopsis: Karl Barth's 1922 The Epistle to the Romans is one of the most
famous, notorious, and influential works in twentieth-century theology
and biblical studies. It is also a famously and notoriously difficult
and enigmatic work, especially as its historical context becomes more
and more foreign. In this book, Kenneth Oakes provides historical
background to the writing of The Epistle to the Romans, an introduction
and analysis of its main themes and terms, a running commentary on the
text itself, and suggestions for further readings from Barth on some of
the issues it raises. The volume not only offers orientation and
assistance for those reading The Epistle to the Romans for the first
time, it also deals with contemporary problems in current Barth
scholarship regarding liberalism, dialectics, and analogy. Endorsements:
"Barth's Epistle to the Romans is notoriously opaque and challenging;
Oakes' guide is lively, perceptive, and nimble, and will enable readers
to approach Barth with confidence and discover for themselves the riches
of this classic of twentieth-century theology." -John Webster University
of Aberdeen "Cleary written and accessible, Reading Karl Barth offers a
fascinating and much-needed commentary on Karl Barth's The Epistle to
the Romans. Oakes' book is a helpful companion for those reading Barth
for the first time, and there is also much here for those who have been
thinking about Barth's revolutionary commentary for some time." -Tom
Greggs University of Aberdeen Author Biography: Kenneth Oakes completed
a doctorate in theology at the University of Aberdeen and is currently a
postdoctoral researcher at the Eberhards Karl Universität, Tübingen.
