Topic > 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 enigma of election presented in the Bible. It is important to realize that there are many views relating to 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 the giants when it comes to modern theology. Their theological insights are such that even now people are mesmerized by their incredible aptitude for theological understanding and presenting that structure 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 it presents passages that proclaim that God is sovereign in whatever or whoever He elects. God is the One who elects man and who is for humanity. God reveals his love and grace through his divine freedom in the love, grace and special attention he offers to man. Karl Barth was criticized by Emil Brunner for his concept of Jesus Christ as the chosen God and chosen man, from which Brunner's understanding of Barth's "universalism" and questionable faith arose. Karl Barth's theology is such that it revolves around the person of Jesus Christ who he presents is the eternal event of the hypostatic union between God and man. Karl Barth refuted the historical conception of predestination as an edict of the infinite God, defined and beyond the purists... middle of the paper... of the Scriptures. Brunner then accuses Barth of going beyond the premises of the Bible, which cannot be allowed since the evidence presented can be used in many ways. The main criticism that comes from Brunner to Barth is that of using only Scripture as evidence to support the hypothesis presented and not going outside the parameters of biblical evidence. Both Barth and Brunner are committed to presenting and affirming the Bible as the foundation of the hypothesis. Barth and Brunner present a doctrine of election and both are very similar except for some themes in each of these doctrines of election. Like Barth, Brunner presents election as God's unique grace bestowed upon humanity. Brunner rejects double predestination as unbiblical “…God ​​chose the one from eternity to eternal life and denied the other from eternity to eternal damnation.”