Only Sacrament Left to Us

Questions of ecclesiology abound, and Karl Barth has been regarded as an unhelpful conversation partner and guide for those who care about ecclesiology and the place of the church in the academic pursuit of theology. The Only Sacrament Left to Us recovers Barth's doctrine of the threefold Word of God and shows that it is at the heart of Barth's ecclesiological commitments, and that Barth offers a distinct and robust doctrine of the church worthy to be carried forward into the twenty-first-century debates about the church's place in God's economy. The book explores the central role of the threefold Word of God in Barth's theology of the church, explains its place in Barth's later doctrine of reconciliation, and seeks to engage the field of Barth studies with contemporary ecclesiological questions. ""There's not much wrong with the illnesses of contemporary preaching that can't be cured with a strong dose of theology. Thomas Currie administers just that remedy. Currie gives us a fresh, invigorating reading of Karl Barth's doctrine of the threefold Word of God. He shows how Barth gives Christian proclamation renewed authorization and justification. Here's a rare gift: theology for preaching by one who is not only an informed theologian but also a lover of the challenge of Christian preaching."" --Will Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC ""Barth is well known for his emphasis on the threefold form of the Word of God. Currie here shows how important this theme is for Barth's doctrine of the church and even more that it has far-reaching effects through his whole theology. This is a unique and significant book since Currie retrieves the centrality of a crucial dimension of Barth's work and opens a strong and vital path for contemporary ecclesiology and Reformed theology. Most commendable!"" --Donald K. McKim, editor of How Karl Barth Changed My Mind ""Chris Currie's exploration of the threefold Word of God in Karl Barth reveals how its early stratified form gives way in his later work to a more flexible relationship between Christ, Scripture, and preaching. The account of preaching that emerges from this study is both a welcome addition to the literature on Barth and also a valuable resource for contemporary Reformed theology."" --David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK ""This book is the first major volume to explore the profound connection between the threefold Word of God and the theology of the church in the work of Karl Barth. In drawing attention to this link, and in analyzing its historical development, doctrinal content, and practical significance, Chris Currie makes a profound contribution to contemporary conversations in Barth studies. But even more than this, Currie offers a compelling vision for the church in general, advocating the ongoing relevance and dynamic centrality of this threefold Word of God, especially in its dimension of proclamation, in the Christian community today. This is an informed, insightful, and generative work that merits careful attention from both theologians and pastors."" --Professor Paul T. Nimmo, Chair in Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland ""Chris Currie surveys the fault lines between Barth's opening doctrine of revelation and his later doctrine of reconciliation. Does Barth's turn to Jesus Christ alone as God's sovereign Word to the whole world displace his earlier emphasis on the church's mediating proclamation of the Scriptures in sermon and sacrament as the divine word's promised means of grace? While some have argued so, Currie's new mapping of the terrain of Barth's thought shows how the threefold Word of God continues to matter for the mission of the church in service to the world.""