Overview

Ashley Cocksworth presents Karl Barth as a theologian who not only produces a strong and vibrant theology of prayer, but also grounds theology itself in the practice of prayer. Prayer and theology are revealed to be integrally related in Barth's understanding of the dogmatic task. Cocksworth provides careful analysis of a range of key texts in Barth's thought in which the theme of prayer emerges with particular interest. He analyzes: Barth's writings on the Sabbath and uncovers an unexpected theology of contemplative prayer; the doctrine of creation of the Church Dogmatics and explores its prioritization of petitionary prayer; and the ethics of the doctrine of reconciliation in which a 'turn to invocation' is charted and the final 'resting place' of Barth's theology of prayer is found. Through the theme of prayer fundamental questions are asked about the relation of human agency to divine agency as conceived by Barth, and new insights are offered into his understandings of the nature and task of theology, pneumatology, sin, baptism, religion, and sanctification. The result is a rich engagement with Barth's theology of prayer, an advancement of scholarship on Karl Barth, and a constructive contribution to the theology of prayer.

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9780567682123

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Reviews

Not all theologians write about the relationship of prayer and Christian theology. In this splendid study, Cocksworth (systematic theology, Queen's Foundation, UK) offers a persuasive demonstration that prayer stands at the center of Karl Barth's theological work. For Barth, Cocksworth writes in his conclusion, `prayer' and theological `work' are not imagined to be independent or sequential but one and the same. Cocksworth describes treatments of prayer in Barth's works before focusing on particular aspects of prayer: contemplation, petition, invocation, pneumatology, and revolt. Though Barth was uneasy with historic, contemplative prayer, Cocksworth sees his theology of the Sabbath as providing room for contemplation. In Church Dogmatics III, Barth wrote that petition was the chief feature of prayer, but toward the end of his life he adjusted that position to claim that invocation is where prayer is rightly focused. Important here are lecture fragments published as The Christian Life, in which Barth proposes this and begins a powerful exposition of the Lord's Prayer. Invocation is the strongest counter to the disorder of evil in the world and commits the prayer to revolt in opposition to the lordless powers that hold sway till God's kingdom fully comes. The Holy Spirit makes prayer transformative-of both the world and the person who prays. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- D. K. McKim, Memphis Theological Seminary, USA * CHOICE * This is not only a deep and original study of Barth on prayer, engaging with the whole Church Dogmatics and a great many of this other writings, and showing how utterly central prayer is to his conception of Christian life, politics and theology; Cocksworth also sensitively relates Barth to other traditions of prayer, especially contemplation and meditation. His culminating original insight is into the importance of Barth's development beyond a main emphasis on petition to an embracing 'turn to invocation'. Anyone interested in Barth or prayer should appreciate this profound and perceptive book. * David F. Ford, University of Cambridge, UK *

Not all theologians write about the relationship of prayer and Christian theology. In this splendid study, Cocksworth (systematic theology, Queen's Foundation, UK) offers a persuasive demonstration that prayer stands at the center of Karl Barth's theological work. For Barth, Cocksworth writes in his conclusion, 'prayer' and theological 'work' are not imagined to be independent or sequential but one and the same. Cocksworth describes treatments of prayer in Barth's works before focusing on particular aspects of prayer: contemplation, petition, invocation, pneumatology, and revolt. Though Barth was uneasy with historic, contemplative prayer, Cocksworth sees his theology of the Sabbath as providing room for contemplation. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- D. K. McKim, Memphis Theological Seminary, USA * CHOICE * This is not only a deep and original study of Barth on prayer, engaging with the whole Church Dogmatics and a great many of this other writings, and showing how utterly central prayer is to his conception of Christian life, politics and theology; Cocksworth also sensitively relates Barth to other traditions of prayer, especially contemplation and meditation. His culminating original insight is into the importance of Barth's development beyond a main emphasis on petition to an embracing 'turn to invocation'. Anyone interested in Barth or prayer should appreciate this profound and perceptive book. * David F. Ford, University of Cambridge, UK *

Not all theologians write about the relationship of prayer and Christian theology. In this splendid study, Cocksworth (systematic theology, Queen's Foundation, UK) offers a persuasive demonstration that prayer stands at the center of Karl Barth's theological work. For Barth, Cocksworth writes in his conclusion, 'prayer' and theological 'work' are not imagined to be independent or sequential but one and the same. Cocksworth describes treatments of prayer in Barth's works before focusing on particular aspects of prayer: contemplation, petition, invocation, pneumatology, and revolt. Though Barth was uneasy with historic, contemplative prayer, Cocksworth sees his theology of the Sabbath as providing room for contemplation. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE * This is not only a deep and original study of Barth on prayer, engaging with the whole Church Dogmatics and a great many of this other writings, and showing how utterly central prayer is to his conception of Christian life, politics and theology; Cocksworth also sensitively relates Barth to other traditions of prayer, especially contemplation and meditation. His culminating original insight is into the importance of Barth's development beyond a main emphasis on petition to an embracing 'turn to invocation'. Anyone interested in Barth or prayer should appreciate this profound and perceptive book. * David F. Ford, University of Cambridge, UK *

Author Information

Ashley Cocksworth is the Tutor in Systematic Theology at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham, UK. He studied theology at the University of Edinburgh, UK and received his doctorate from the University of Cambridge, UK.

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