I
must say that I agree with Barth in two points: (1) Jesus being the Geschichte
in whom the life of all humankind is realized and that (2) Jesus Christ and His
work of reconciliation of God and man envelops the entire history of the world
and every man. However, when Barth says that Jesus is distinct from God (the
Father) I surely disagree because Jesus is the Word.. He is God Himself in
flesh.
Jesus
was not an agent who came from on high on behalf of a superior God that is
outside Him. I believe in the triune God who was, who is, and is to come. Jesus
was the electing Christ with an absolute decree and not as what Barth says that
Christ is the electing God and the elected man.
The
subordination within the trinity is not ontological but economic, as Jesus the
Son is not inferior to God the Father nor any distinct from the God the Holy
Spirit. The subsistence, aseity and immutability of the trinity are
incommunicable attributes of the triune God that would explain such economic or
relational subordination of the three Persons.
I
must admit that reading the different perspectives of theologians make me think
more critical and also lead to some levels of confusion because in some ways,
their positions at a certain degree make sense to me. But getting into their
teachings, like that of Barth, is like going into a tunnel and the farther you
go into it, the more you realize that you are being led into a bad destination.
I
believe there is no perfect theology but there is always a sound theology. I
would say that we should just go with the sound one but do not worship it.
Worshipping God is always the goal not the theology.
Week 3
Digest, Sept.6-13, 2022
Lanilane Ocbina
WCTS, ThM program
