Wisdom on the Relationship of Dogmatics and Preaching

"It is a familiar and perhaps unavoidable beginner's mistake of students and assistants, when preaching, to think they can and should confidently take the content of their preaching from their treasured college notebooks and textbooks of dogmatics.  On the other hand, older preachers are usually far too confident in removing themselves from the jurisdiction of this critical authority."

"One cannot and should not expect to hear the content of proclamation from dogmatics.  This content must be found each time in the middle space between the particular text in the context of the whole Bible and the particular situation of the changing moment.  Dogmatics can only be a guide to the right mastery and the right adaptability, to the right boldness and the right caution, for the given moment  when this space has to be found. It can only be a guide to orientation between the two poles of saying what has to be said in all circumstances and not saying what must be said in any circumstances."

"...We have seen already that what dogmatics has to give does not consist of contents but of guidelines, directions, insights, principles and limits for correct speech by human estimate.  It can be called doctrinal law in this sense.  But its presupposition is that preaching aquires its contents elsewhere.  For that reason it cannot be lord and judge here either.  It can and should give counsel in all seriousness but it neither can nor should seek to give orders in the Church."

"...Church proclamation and not dogmatics is immediate to God in the Church.  Proclamation is essential, dogmatics is needed only for the sake of it.  Dogmatics lives by it to the extent that it lives only in the Church.  In proclamation, and in God, revelation and faith only to the degree that these are its objects, dogmatics is to seek its material."

Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics I.1, page 79, 87.

Comments

[Todd]

in reading that section of the dogmatics in seminary, i could not help but be totally blown away by the amazing perspective the Barth has on preaching. never before have i seen someone take "proclimation" so seriously...

maybe i should head back to those sections more often...

[Mitch]

Did you just say that preaching should: contain relevance to the lives of the congregation; be guided by church laws; and supported by biblical reference?

[Rev. Babulal]

Dear Mitch
I think your presupposition about Barth is valuable. I would like to know if I can get more information on this. I am an ordained priest and one who wants to appropriate Barth to the Indian context. I would earnestly seek your help.
thank you, and God bless
Babulal