Epistle to the Romans

About “Epistle to the Romans”

Karl Barth's Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans was first published in Germany in 1918 and created immediate attention. A revised and expanded second edition appeared in 1921, with four more editions by 1933. The terms "Barthian" and "Barthianism" reflect the theological impact of Barth's work, influencing thought in Europe, Britain, and America. The book remains essential for understanding Barthian theology. Its central argument is that the challenges faced by Paul are similar to those faced by modern Christian preachers and theologians. Barth's work reexamines the Protestant debate on the relationship between the Bible and culture. The English translation was published in 1933, as Nazism rose in Germany. Throughout the Nazi period and World War II, Barth, based in Switzerland, remained a significant figure in Christian theology. In 1968, at age 82, he was widely honored. The translator, Sir Edwin Hoskyns, was a Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.