Markus Barth

The Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Colossians offers a valuable and intimate glimpse into the life of a fledgling Christian community as it struggled to define Christian doctrine and theology. Paul was prompted to write to the Colossian assembly when he heard that “false teachers” had joined the congregation and were advocating dangerous, non-Christian practices. In an effort to appear superior, these heretical teachers were luring Christians to exercise asceticism, moral rigorism, and esoteric rituals—hallmarks of other “mystery” and pagan cults. In his passionate letter, Paul denounces these extreme and elitist practices and firmly defends a life in Christ. He proclaims that pure, simple worship of Christ alone is the most powerful statement of faith. In their astute and lucid commentary, eminent New Testament scholars Markus Barth and Helmut Blanke re-create the turbulent age of the birth of Christianity and examine the myriad “outside” influences—from cold, rational Hellenistic philosophy to exclusive, ethereal Gnostic thought—that often threatened the evolution of Christian theology. Colossians not only provides a new and carefully balanced analysis of this pivotal New Testament text but also chronicles the development of Christian thought as it gradually spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Ephesians comprises volumes 34 and 34A of the Anchor Bible, a new book-by-book translation with introductions, notes, and comments by individual scholars, each known for outstanding contributions to biblical studies. Markus Barth, son of Karl Barth, held a New Testament chair at the University of Basel, Switzerland.Encompassing the body of Pauline theology, Ephesians has been called “the crown of St. Paul’s writings,” yet both its authorship and addressees are the subject of continuing dispute. Through line-by-line examination of its vocabulary, its difficult style, its Qumran and Gnostic affinities, its parallels with and distinctions from the undisputed Pauline corpus, its use of the Old Testament, and its dialogue with orthodox and heretical Judaism, Markys Barth demonstrates that Paul was almost certainly the author. And after exploring previous explication of this hymnic and admonitory epistle in detail, he concludes that it was intended for Gentile Christians converted after Paul’s visits to Ephesus.On this basis, Barth reexamines the relationship between Israel and the Church, discounting the thesis that Ephesians suggests an “early Catholic” or high-ecclesiastic or sacramental doctrine. Instead, he finds in this letter a statement of the social reconciliation that conditions the salvation of the individual. And reevaluating the section describing the relation between husband and wife, he offers and alternative to the traditional notion that Paul degrades women or belittles their rights and their dignity.In these two volumes Barth has followed the structure of Ephesians: upon the praise of God (chapters 1-3) are based the admonitions (chapters 4-6). But just as the epistle is an integral whole, so is the author’s commentary. Through his special understanding and love of the apostle Paul, Markus Barth reopens to modern man the ancient message of love, worship, and joy.

JUSTIFICATION In this unusual and engaging experiment in exegesis, Markus Barth explores the concept and vocabulary of Justification as revealed so prominently in Paul's formulation of the message of Christ. According to Dr. Barth, when Paul speaks about justification, he is speaking about a single juridical event. The methodology Barth uses to explore this thesis is one that takes full account of the Old Testament background of Paul's thought--a key Barth finds too frequently ignored. Recognizing the inherent limitations in trying to say what is unspeakable and describe what no eye has seen, Barth turns to drama as the best medium for talking about this article of faith, on which the church stands or falls, as Luther said. Setting his argument in a scheme of five days of judgment, he presents the miracle of justification in narrative and dramatic terms that will appeal to all readers, not just to those versed in traditional theological language. The more traditional theological terminology is relegated to the copiously documented footnotes. An impressive attempt to breathe new life into the biblical understanding of justification . . . probes to the heart of the Christian faith, and leaves the reader with a profound sense of its joy and triumph. --Brevard S. Childs, Professor of Old Testament, Yale Divinity School Markus Barth (1915-1994) studied Protestant theology in Bern Basel, Berlin, and Edinburgh, and received his Th.D.from the University of Goettingen in 1947. He served as pastor in Bubendorf, Switzerland, from 1940-1953. Thereafter, he taught New Testament at theological schools in Dubuque, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Basel. His books include Israel and the Church, The People of God, Rediscovering the Lord's Supper, and Jesus the Jew.

The People of God Several factors make this a compelling and topical book: - The anti-Jewish sentiments that can still disfigure much Christian teaching and writing - The baffling fate and often shocking politics of the State of Israel in recent years and months - The faltering progress towards ecumenical unity of Jews and Christians - The need for a united witness to Jesus as Jew and as Son of God Markus Barth, Professor of New Testament in the University of Basel, combines passion and scholarship in this summons to a recognition of the brotherhood of Jews and Christians. He discusses with authority both the current theological climate and the biblical basis--in particular, the writings of Paul--on which a true doctrine of the 'People of God' should be built; and he calls for a new relationship characterized by frank and honest criticism, but especially by fraternal love.

Although sometimes regarded as trivial because of its brevity or its treatment of issues distant from the modern world, the letter to Philemon remains valuable both for its insight into the social setting of the New Testament and for its reiteration of a central component of the gospel-brotherly love. This superb new commentary in the ECC series is unique for its exhaustive study of the ancient world at the time Philemon was written. The volume examines the institution of slavery in Paul's day, drawing on secular sources from Greece and Rome and from Christian writers of the time. The references to slavery found in Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Timothy are also compared and contrasted with Paul's words in Philemon. In addition, the verse-by-verse commentary focuses on important themes in Pauline theology, including love, faith and faithfulness, church unity, providence, free will, and human responsibility. Markus Barth makes his exposition even more useful by surveying the history of the interpretation of Philemon, from the patristic age to modern liberation theologians.The product of Barth's lifelong research and completed by Helmut Blanke, this volume will become the standard work on Philemon.