Karl Barth on Prayer

Not all theologians write about the relationship of prayer and Christian theology. In this splendid study, Cocksworth (systematic theology, Queen's Foundation, UK) offers a persuasive demonstration that prayer stands at the center of Karl Barth’s theological work. For Barth, Cocksworth writes in his conclusion, “‘prayer’ and theological ‘work’ are not imagined to be independent or sequential but one and the same.” Cocksworth describes treatments of prayer in Barth’s works before focusing on particular aspects of prayer: contemplation, petition, invocation, pneumatology, and revolt. Though Barth was uneasy with historic, contemplative prayer, Cocksworth sees his theology of the Sabbath as providing room for contemplation. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- D. K. McKim, Memphis Theological Seminary, USA * CHOICE *
This is not only a deep and original study of Barth on prayer, engaging with the whole Church Dogmatics and a great many of this other writings, and showing how utterly central prayer is to his conception of Christian life, politics and theology; Cocksworth also sensitively relates Barth to other traditions of prayer, especially contemplation and meditation. His culminating original insight is into the importance of Barth's development beyond a main emphasis on petition to an embracing 'turn to invocation'. Anyone interested in Barth or prayer should appreciate this profound and perceptive book. * David F. Ford, University of Cambridge, UK *