1930s–1962

Barth: Election in Jesus Christ – and Brunner's Response

Karl Barth's doctrine of election (Church Dogmatics II/2) is centered on Christ: He is the sole object of election and reprobation, at once the electing God and the elected human being. Barth rejected the double predestination that divides people into the saved and the damned: on the cross the Son went into the "far country", taking on the wrath and alienation deserved by humanity, and therefore election extends to all. Asked about apokatastasis, Barth replied: "I do not promote this teaching, but neither do I speak against it." Emil Brunner worked out his own doctrine of election in opposition both to Barth and to classical Calvinist double predestination, rejecting a "logical theory" of election in favor of a dialectical, biblical view.