The Hastening that Waits

A fresh and up-to-date account of the ethical thought of one of the twentieth century's greatest theologians, Karl Barth. Dr Biggar recovers Barth's ethics from some widespread misunderstandings, and goes on to relate Barth's ideas to many of the central issues debated in contemporary Christian ethics - including the concept of human freedom and of created moral order; moral norms and their relation to individual vocation; the relative ethnical roles of the Bible,the Church, philosophy, and empirical science; moral character and its formation; and the problem of war.

“'this book on Barth's ethics claims our attention as more than just an exercise in historical theology ... a doctoral thesis, but refined and shortened so as to be accessible to a wider readship ... The author writes sympathetically but also critically, and makes the effort to draw out thewider significance and application of Barth's work at the end of each chapter.'Regent's Review, Autumn 1994”

a clear and judicious treatment of the great Swiss theologian's ethical thought, rescuing it from some misunderstandings, and displaying its coherence in the context of prayerfully waiting upon God while hastening towards God's coming kingdom with energy, hope and obedience ... this book is one which, though tightly argued, gives a lively and reasoned insight into Barth's rigorous ethical thinking, and as it does so illuminates for contemporary moraltheology such important themes as freedom, vocation, and character'Church Timesfew major studies have been attempted of his [Barth's] ethics ... Now the Oxford Studies in Theological Ethics has begun to remedy that lack in a very stylish work ... Biggar traces with subtle care the developments between 1929 and 1959, and is astutely critical at the most appropriate points ... Biggar explores all these issues shrewdly, pointing to the gaps in Barth's arguments and the occasional tendency to frankly arbitrary judgments on the part ofthe great doctor. All of this analysis is deftly done, and provides a standard study of the complexity of Barth and, to a certain extent, the sheer excitement he often conveyed in his writing ... The mainideas are studied meticulously and analysed with great precision'Methodist Recordera clear and judicious treatement of the great Swiss theologian's ethical thought ... this book is one which, though tightly argued, gives a lively and reasoned insight into Barth's rigorous ethical thinking, and as it does so illuminates for contemporary moral theology such important themes as freedom, vocation and characterChurch TimesIn this book Nigel Biggar sets out to remove the ignorance and misunderstanding which have attended Barth's ethical thinking in the English speaking world...In this aim he succeeds admirably. He appears as an advocate for Barth, while being scrupulously fair to his critics. The result is a work which not only fulfils its set purpose, but also makes a valuable contribution of its own to theological ethics...We must hope for more translations of similarquality and erudition'The Oriel Recorda model at once of careful exposition and of critical reflection'The Expository Times'The importance of this book lies in Biggar's spirited defence of Barth's theological reasoning.'Graham Ward, Exeter College, Oxford, Theology, Mar/Apr. 1994'Biggar's careful reading of Barth's lectures on ethics from the late 1920s and early 60s, along with the massive Church Dogmatics, is, I think, plausible, ... his study is an excellent introduction to the complexities of Barth's ethics.'Times Literary Supplement'...excellent study, this must be the best introduction to Barth's ethical thought available in English...confidently recommended to advanced students as a fine guide to Barth's understanding of God's call to relationship with him, to membership of the Church, and to "dissident engagement with the world".'Nicholas Sagovsky, Theological Book Review, Vol 6, No 2, February 1994'careful and comprehensive account of Barth's ethics'International Review of Mission, Vol. LXXXIII No. 330'this book on Barth's ethics claims our attention as more than just an exercise in historical theology ... a doctoral thesis, but refined and shortened so as to be accessible to a wider readship ... The author writes sympathetically but also critically, and makes the effort to draw out the wider significance and application of Barth's work at the end of each chapter.'Regent's Review, Autumn 1994this book on Barth's ethics claims our attention as more than just an exercise in historical theology ... The work is the result a doctoral thesis, but refined and shortened so as to be accessible to a wider readership. The author writes sympathetically but also critically, and makes the effort to draw out the wider significance and application of Barth's work at the end of each chapter.'Regent's Reviews 5, Autumn 1994Nobody is better equipped than Nigel Biggar, a student of Barth's writings for over a decade, to guide the reader through the gradual and complex development of his ethics. This impressive book is the first in a series of Oxford Studies in Theological Ethics. It is priced at a level likely to ensure that its main purchaser will be libraries and main readers fellow-ethicists, but any who have more than a passing interest in Karl Barth are well advised tosample it.'Richard Higginson, Ridley Hall, Cambridge, Anvil, Vol. ll, No. 3, 1994Clearly written and well structured book ... This book will reward anyone who engages seriously with Barth's ethics, provoking many fresh insights and the desire to argue on points of detail.'Scottish Journal of TheologyIf it is true, as the introduction to this book claims, that '(t)he English-speaking world has not been generous with the attention it has paid to the ethical thought of Karl Barth' (p.1) then the re-publication of this excellent analysis, together with a revised conclusion, is a helpful corrective. This analysis is helpful, insightful and illuminating.'John E. Colwell, Off the RecordBiggar's study is free of the kind of reverential deference sometimes found in defenses of Barth's work. He is not afraid to say plainly that Barth erred in a number of important respects.'C. Stephen Evans, Books Culture, May/June 1997

Nigel Biggar is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, where he also directs the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Life. His other books include Burying the Past: Making Peace and Doing Justice after Civil Conflict and Aiming to Kill: The Ethics of Suicide and Euthanasia.

A fresh and up-to-date account of the ethical thought of one of the twentieth century's greatest theologians, Karl Barth. Dr Biggar recovers Barth's ethics from some widespread misunderstandings, and goes on to relate Barth's ideas to many of the central issues debated in contemporary Christian ethics - including the concept of human freedom and of created moral order; moral norms and their relation to individual vocation; the relative ethnical roles of the Bible, the Church, philosophy, and empirical science; moral character and its formation; and the problem of war.

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