A Shorter Commentary on Romans by Karl Barth

First published in 1959, Karl Barth''s A Shorter Commentary on Romans originated as the manuscript for a course of extra-mural lectures held in Basle during the winter of 1940-41. During this time, Barth continued to resist the Nazi regime and its influence on the Reformed Church as he did when he was in Bonn. This reissue of Barth''s A Shorter Commentary on Romans links to the renewed interest today in a ''theological'' interpretation of Scripture. In response to the modern preoccupation with what lies behind the text (the author''s context), and to a postmodern preoccupation with what lies in front of the text (the reader''s context), both theologians and biblical scholars are asking the following questions: ''What is the relationship between the biblical text, interpreter and God?'' ''Can the Bible be read both as an historical document and as a text that speaks to us today, and if so, how can it do so?'' Barth''s commentarial practice as exemplified in A Shorter Commentary on Romans answers these questions. This book is presented in two parts: first, an introduction by Maico Michielin helping readers understand Barth''s theological exegetical approach to interpreting Scripture and showing readers how to let Scripture address theological and ethical concerns for today; the main body of the book then follows - the republication of the original English translation by D.H. van Daalen of Barth''s A Shorter Commentary on Romans.