Reading the Decree

David Gibson is Assistant Minister at High Church Hilton, Aberdeen. He studied theology at Nottingham University and King's College London, and completed a doctorate at the University of Aberdeen.

‘There is much to commend about Gibson's study. He offers the reader a clear, careful and fair reading of Calvin and Barth... He is refreshingly appreciative of the ways in which the connections and motifs internal to Barth's own thought are deeply indebted to the Reform tradition, and particularly to Calvin... this study deserves a wide reading, and will be of particular interest to Calvin and Barth scholars.'

• Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Chapter 1: Calvin, Barth, and Christocentrism Introduction 1. Christ and election 1.1 A theological distinction 2. Exegesis and election 2.2 A hermeneutical distinction 3. On comparing Calvin and Barth 4. Plan of the present study Chapter 2: Christology and Election Introduction 1. Jesus Christ as the Subject of Election 1.1. Christ as author 1.2. The trinitarian basis of election in Calvin 1.3. Christ as electing God 1.4. The trinitarian basis of election in Barth 2. Jesus Christ as the Object of Election 2.1. Christ as the Mediator of election itself 2.2. Christ as the Mediator of salvation flowing from election 2.3. Christ as elected man Conclusion: Trinity and Election Chapter 3: Community and Election Introduction 1. Calvin on Israel and the church 2. Barth on the community 3. Romans 9:1-23 4. Romans 9:24-11:36 Conclusion: Covenant and Election Chapter 4: Hermeneutics and Election Introduction 1. The hermeneutics of election in Calvin 1.1. The location of Christology 1.2. The location of election 1.3. Christology and election 1.4. Christology and revelation 2. The hermeneutics of election in Barth 2.1. Election and Epistemology 2.2. Scripture as witness to revelation 2.3. Jesus Christ: Scripture's object and content 2.4. Mediatio: Scripture's parts and Scripture's whole Conclusion: Revelation and Election Conclusions Bibliography