Markus Barth – författare

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.

It makes no sense to do theological work in an ivory tower. The necessity of defining the concept ''people of God'' may be illustrated by at least four elements of present-day experience: the baffling fate and often shocking politics of the State of Israel since the six-day war in 1967; the anti-Jewish elements which still shame many books written for the church, and many Christian declarations about Israel; the stuttering progress in matters of Jewish-Christian unity; and, finally, the need for a united and unequivocal testimony to Jesus Christ who is a Jew and the Son of God, and as such the saviour of the world. Markus Barth combines Pauline exegesis, church history and dogmatics in this provocative contribution to an important contemporary debate.

Following his father's classic work CHURCH DOGMATICS, Markus Barth considered the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, which, had not received a full treatment. His work resulted in an exegesis of the Lord's Supper texts in the Synoptics, the Fourth Gospel, and the Pauline letters. His perspective sees the Lord's supper and its accomanying Agape meal as a symbolic event that allows God's people to commune in an atmosphere that remains open to all, including the Jews, whose Passover continues to shed light on this sacrament. His presentation covers the Lord's Supper, Passover, the relationship of Christians and Jews, and the participation of children in communion. He challenges the definitions of Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry as expressed in the Lima Document, offering one of the most sharply stated alternatives available. His discussion provides a reexamination of the Lord's Supper as a symbol of ecumenism--the opportunity for all God's people to celebrate together. This approach makes an important ecumenical contribution to understanding the Lord's Supper from a New Testament perspective.

The ramifications of the crucifixion of Jesus by Jews are still felt deeply today. Discussion of Judaism and Christianity, Israelis and Palestinians, and the Jewish heritage of Jesus evoke high-level emotional responses from Christians and non-Christians. Discussion becomes heated argument as factions divide and take sides.Centuries-old feelings of fear, anger, hostility, resentment, repression, and blame fan the flames of unrest and disagreement. Jesus the Jew speaks to these issues. Markus Barth addresses Jews and Christians, in fact, everyone who is looking for a new or deepened understanding of Israel and of the church, especially in respect to servicing truth, justice, freedom, and peace. Barth considers two major areas of conflict--What Does It Mean That Jesus Is a Jew? and Israel and the Palestinians. He explores biblical testimony, the uniqueness of Jesus, and Christian responsibility. He deals with the protests and arguments of Arab scholars, biblical scholars, and modern journalists. Jesus and the Jew offers an insightful look at tradition, history, and the Scriptures to provide a perspective through which Christians, Jews, Arabs, and Moslems may learn to accept each other.

Dein Handy wird immer klüger. Aber vielleicht nur im Vergleich mit dir?Was für großartige Zeiten! Überall Smartphones, Einrichtungs-Shows, Wellness-Tees. Für jedes Problem gibt es ein Internetportal, deine Jogging-Klamotten rennen fast von alleine, und beim Reden und Schreiben hilft Bastian Sick.Also alles super?Bestimmt. Aber bevor Markus Barth beruhigt die Füße hochlegt, hätte er noch ein paar Fragen: Warum haben die Versender von Spam unsere E-Mail-Adressen, aber kein Rechtschreibprogramm? Ist es okay, Fleisch von glücklichen Tieren zu essen, oder sollte man lieber die unglücklichen schlachten? Und warum fühlt sich dieses rundum verbesserte Leben 2.0 so gar nicht besser an als das Leben zuvor?«Brillante Stand-up-Comedy zum Lesen! ... Ich hab mich weggeschmissen!» (Tommy Jaud)

Städte sind auch nur Dörfer mit ICE-Anschluss.Seit fünfzehn Jahren lebt Markus Barth nun in der Großstadt. Und lernt immer noch täglich dazu:•Chicorée ist Blumenkohl für Besserverdiener.•Mit 3-D-Brillen kann man schlechte Filme noch viel intensiver erleben.•«Heilfasten» ist genauso sinnvoll wie «Gesundprügeln».•Obst-Matsch heißt jetzt «Smoothie». Mettwurst dagegen nicht.Es ist eine verwirrende Welt. Aber mit Markus Barth macht sie wieder Spaß.«Intelligent, gut beobachtet und sehr, sehr lustig.» (Moritz Netenjakob)«Ihr erstes Buch wurde schon nach acht Tagen aus meinem Wartezimmer geklaut. Bei Dieter Bohlen hat''s zwei Wochen gedauert.» (Markus Barths Zahnarzt)«Ich lese sonst nur Südstaatendramen von William Faulkner, Shakespeare-Sonette und das Spätwerk von Dschinghis Dussetneky. Ausschließlich. Aber wenn in einem Buch ‹lesbisches Mett› vorkommt, werde ich schwach.» (Anke Engelke)

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.