Obedience from First to Last: The Obedience of Jesus Christ in Karl Barth's Doctrine of Reconciliation: 242 (Princeton Theological Monograph)

Obedience from First to Last explores the theological significance of the obedience of Jesus Christ in Karl Barths theology. It does this via a threefold consideration of first the nature of Jesus incarnate obedience; second the relation of that obedience to the obedience of the second triune person of the eternal Son; and third the effects Jesus obedience has on our own obedience. Barth not only affirms the pivotal role Jesus obedience has within the economy of salvation but by equating that obedience with that of the eternal Sons Barth gives Jesus obedience a pre-eminent place within the immanent being of Godself. The obedience of Jesus Christ is seen to have a co-participatory role in Gods determination of his own divine being that arises from the primordial act of divine election. This notion bears on our understanding of freedom and obedience: as divine freedom is expressed in divine obedience so it is with human freedom and human obedience.