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Essay / Modern Theology: Karl Barth and Emil Brunner - 1302
The doctrine of election has been one of the key topics discussed by various influential theologians over the course of two thousand years. Many have attempted to understand and embrace the conundrum of election presented in the Bible. It is important to realize that there are many views regarding the doctrine of election, ranging from eminent theologians such as Augustine and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius, Barth and Brunner, and various other theologians and their respective counterparts. Karl Barth and Emil Brunner are giants in modern theology. Their theological knowledge is such that even today people are fascinated by their incredible aptitude for theological understanding and presentation of this framework in a fluid and concise framework. Each of these two theologians presents a theology on the doctrine of election from a biblical perspective. The doctrine of election is one of the main points of the Bible because throughout it we are presented with passages proclaiming that God is sovereign in whatever or whomever He chooses . God is the one who elects man and He is for humanity. God reveals his love and grace through his divine freedom in the love, grace and special care he gives to man. Karl Barth was criticized by Emil Brunner for Barth's concept of Jesus Christ as electing God and chosen man, from which Barth's understanding of "universalism" and questionable faith according to Brunner arose. Karl Barth's theology is such that it revolves around the person of Jesus Christ which he presents is the eternal event of the hypostatic union between God and humanity. Karl Barth refuted the historical understanding of predestination as the infinite, definite and beyond edict of God purists...... middle of paper ...... Scripture. Brunner therefore accuses Barth of going beyond the premises of the Bible, which cannot be allowed since the evidence presented can be used in many ways. Brunner's main criticism of Barth is that he uses only Scripture as evidence to support the hypothesis presented and does not step outside the parameters of biblical evidence. Both Barth and Brunner are dedicated to presenting and affirming the Bible as the basis for their hypothesis. Barth and Brunner present a doctrine of election and both are very similar, except for a few themes in each of these doctrines of election. Like Barth, Brunner presents election as the only grace of God poured out on humanity. Brunner denies double predestination as unbiblical “…God chose one from all eternity to eternal life and refused the other from all eternity to eternal damnation..”