Natur, Gnade, und "Nein!" Karl Barth and Emil Brunner: Swiss Theologians in Conflict

Authors

Samuel J. Youngs

Keywords

Switzerland, Swiss history, European history

Abstract

The monumental nature of Calvin's theological career forever left its impress and guaranteed a perennial home for "Reformed theology" in Switzerland. Idiosyncratically, Reformed theology does not refer to some universal, systematic "theology of the Reformation" (Reformation theology, far from being universal, could be quite conflictual and polymorphous2) but rather to specific and dominant tropes of most Reformation Christian thought, perhaps best summarized by the solae of the Lutherans: Sola Fidei (Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone).3 If we wanted to distill this theological trajectory in one sentence, it could read something like: God's gracious act of salvation comes to us solely by Christ and our faith in him, and for these gracious gifts,4 to God alone belongs the glory.

Recommended Citation

Youngs, Samuel J. (2015) "Natur, Gnade, und "Nein!" Karl Barth and Emil Brunner: Swiss Theologians in Conflict," Swiss American Historical Society Review: Vol. 51: No. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_review/vol51/iss1/4